Snowy Night Timeless Love Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Snowy Night Timeless Love Synopsis

The unruly swordsman Huo Zhanbai, who seeks medicine for his friend's child, meets the medicine master Xue Ziye, the leader of the Valley of Medicine.

Over eight years, the two develop feelings for each other. These two individuals with their strong beliefs go from being rivals to becoming close friends who deeply understand each other.

However, due to the responsibilities they each carry, they find it difficult to express their love, leading to a story of eternal separation between heaven and earth.

Snowy Night Timeless Love Recap

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• 19
• 20
• 21
• 22
• 23
• 24
• 25
• 26
• 27
• 28
• 29
• 30
• 31
• 32

Xue Ziye once again returned to that nightmare of a night, where the massacre of Mo Family Village replayed before her eyes. She helplessly watched her younger self and Xue Huai jump into the lake. Waking up in shock from her bed, Xue Ziye breathed heavily and walked out. She placed the lantern aside and brushed away the snow on the icy surface, revealing Xue Huai’s body beneath. Despite the passing years, Xue Ziye still hadn’t uncovered the truth.

Meanwhile, Huo Zhanbai, one of the Seven Swords of the Dingjian Pavilion, was dueling on the shore with Xu Chonghua, the Sixth Sword. Xu Chonghua, having grievously injured several elders in a bid for the Pavilion Master's position, knew he had no way out and refused to return with Huo Zhanbai to face judgment. Although Huo Zhanbai, still moved by brotherly affection, tried to persuade him, Xu Chonghua remained stubborn.

He tossed away his sword and jumped off a steep cliff, leaving behind only one request: to take care of his wife and child. Dingjian Pavilion is the leader of the righteous martial sects, gathering elite members from various factions and uniting the eight great swords to protect the moral order of the martial world. In half a month, Huo Zhanbai was set to succeed as the Pavilion Master. The Fourth Sword, Xia Qianyu, was very displeased with this.

Huo Zhanbai never wanted to be the Pavilion Master, and the current Master had him locked up. But such trivial confinement couldn’t hold him for long. Huo Zhanbai escaped and planned to flee with the snow manta. However, it wasn’t long before the Pavilion Master, Nangong Yanqi, brought him back. Huo Zhanbai still couldn’t let go of Xu Chonghua’s death.

Others mistakenly believed he had killed Xu Chonghua, but Nangong Yanqi knew how deeply Huo Zhanbai cared for his sixth brother and would never have delivered the killing blow. Xu Chonghua’s death was not Huo Zhanbai’s fault, and Nangong Yanqi hoped he could let go of his inner conflict. At that moment, someone hurriedly reported that Xu Chonghua’s son, Mo’er, was in grave condition.

Xu Chonghua’s wife, Qiu Shuiyin, cradled Mo’er and desperately pleaded with the doctor and Nangong Yanqi, mistakenly thinking Huo Zhanbai was ignoring them. The doctor had no solution for Mo’er’s illness, and they thought of Xue Ziye, the master of the Medicine Valley. However, to obtain her treatment, they would need the Huitian Token and 100,000 gold as payment.

The fee was manageable, but the Huitian Token was a rare life-saving talisman that everyone in the martial world sought to possess. Huo Zhanbai stepped forward, promising to retrieve the token and made an agreement with Qiu Shuiyin to arrive at Medicine Valley before New Year’s Eve. In today’s martial world, good and evil are divided, but Medicine Valley remains neutral, revered by all for its miraculous healing arts.

Though located in the far northern Mohe, the valley is warmed year-round by hot springs that have flowed for millennia, creating a landscape of distinct seasons. The valley is divided into four pavilions representing spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Today was New Year’s Eve, the liveliest day in the valley. Rumors spread outside that the master of Medicine Valley was greedy and lustful, and after the affair with Xuanyuan Sanguang, people even said she was a gambler.

Yet Xue Ziye paid no mind. This year, only nine of the ten Huitian Tokens had been returned, and it seemed the last one would go unused. On New Year’s Eve, everyone gathered noisily in front of Xue Ziye, asking for rewards and playing the “Feihua Game. ” As usual, Xue Ziye spent the holiday alone and slipped away unnoticed. She drank alone, gazing at the solitary moon in the sky.

Granny Ning draped a cloak over her and advised her to let go of the past, but Xue Ziye’s eyes remained filled with sorrow. Midnight was approaching, and Xue Ziye closed the gate, hoping that whoever had the final Huitian Token was safe. Suddenly, a sword flew through the air—it was Huo Zhanbai’s "Mo Soul Sword. " Shortly after, Huo Zhanbai arrived on horseback. He had resorted to this drastic measure upon seeing Xue Ziye closing the gate.

Xue Ziye didn’t reveal her true identity and instead teased Huo Zhanbai. But to her surprise, Huo Zhanbai recognized who she was. The rumors of Medicine Valley’s master being greedy and lustful seemed true regarding the latter. Xue Ziye’s face turned cold, and she ordered him to leave. With Qiu Shuiyin and Mo’er still on their way, Huo Zhanbai had no choice but to stall for time.

However, Xue Ziye’s rules could not be bent, and she turned back to close the gate. In desperation, Huo Zhanbai broke the gate to Medicine Valley, only to face the fierce wind and snow stone formation at the entrance. People scoffed at his arrogance, as no one had ever succeeded in passing the formation. Huo Zhanbai removed his coat and re-entered the formation, destroying it.

The people around Xue Ziye grew highly alert, warning that if he took another step, he would not leave alive. Yet Huo Zhanbai did not advance. Instead, he knelt before the gate, begging Xue Ziye to come out and treat Mo’er, offering himself at her command. Xue Ziye understood that he only wanted to prove that man could defy fate. If he truly wanted to break through, no one could stop him.

The sound of galloping horses approached, and the person Huo Zhanbai was willing to sacrifice his life for finally arrived. Xue Ziye asked him, “Is it truly worth doing something you know is impossible? ” Huo Zhanbai replied, “How can you know it’s impossible without trying? ” Qiu Shuiyin knelt in front of Xue Ziye, holding Mo’er and begging for help.

Xue Ziye mistook him for the child’s father, but Huo Zhanbai clarified that while Mo’er was not his biological son, he cared for him as if he were. Xue Ziye glanced at the crying baby in Qiu Shuiyin’s arms and finally accepted the first Huitian Token of the year.

Under Xue Ziye's treatment, Mo’er woke up again. Qiu Shuiyin and Huo Zhanbai finally breathed a sigh of relief. Xue Ziye explained that Mo’er was a premature baby, inherently weak and gravely ill, but she had a method to save him. However, they could not step inside for three days. As a mother, Qiu Shuiyin was reluctant to part with her child, and Huo Zhanbai tried to probe her decision.

Xue Ziye's stance was firm; if they were unwilling, they should leave the mountain immediately. Xue Ziye arranged for Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuiyin to stay on the mountain, respecting Huo Zhanbai's righteousness. Qiu Shuiyin kept vigil day and night at the medicine stove, while Xue Ziye discussed the day’s events with Xue Huai. Huo Zhanbai had risked everything to save Mo’er, just as Xue Huai had once done for her.

This day marked the anniversary of Huo Zhanbai's brotherhood with Xu Chonghua. In previous years, they would drink together under the moonlight, but now, Huo Zhanbai sat alone, drinking to the lonely moon. Xue Ziye wore a gift from Xue Huai, praying day and night for his recovery. Huo Zhanbai accidentally entered the forbidden area of Medicine Valley. Upon seeing his pale face, Xue Ziye remarked that the scenery was too beautiful to be restricted.

She glared at him in anger, and Huo Zhanbai quickly left. As dawn approached, Qiu Shuiyin remained outside the door, unwilling to leave, ignoring Huo Zhanbai’s concerns. Xue Ziye got up early to fetch rootless water, and Huo Zhanbai followed her, worried for her safety. Xue Ziye bluntly stated that the rootless water had nothing to do with Mo’er, yet Huo Zhanbai still insisted on helping. Noticing that someone had moved her chess pieces, Xue Ziye realized someone had been there.

She had played chess with this person for years without ever meeting. Three days had passed, and Xue Ziye suddenly learned that something was wrong in the medicine lodge. Anxiously, Qiu Shuiyin rushed in, only to find that Mo’er had lost his breath. Xue Ziye couldn't figure out what had gone wrong.

Qiu Shuiyin angrily accused Xue Ziye of killing her child, but Xue Ziye soon discovered that it was Qiu Shuiyin who had disobeyed her orders and given him water. Xue Ziye ultimately decided to take Mo’er to the ice cave, hoping for a chance at survival. Qiu Shuiyin tightly held onto Mo’er, reluctant to cause him further distress, but after much consideration, Huo Zhanbai handed Mo’er over to Xue Ziye. The ice cave was freezing.

Xue Ziye instructed everyone to leave, even though she suffered from a cold ailment herself. Trouble arose at the valley entrance when Xuanyuan Sanguang caused a disturbance, and they captured Lanlan outside the gate. As everyone was at a loss, Huo Zhanbai stepped forward. Xuanyuan Sanguang, with a filthy mouth, insulted him as Xue Ziye's wild man kept in the valley. Unable to endure it, Huo Zhanbai cleaned up the mess.

Xue Ziye, ignoring her cold, treated Mo’er, and miraculously saved him, but she fainted from her ailment. Huo Zhanbai took her to the Summer Garden to recover, but when Xue Ziye opened her eyes, she pushed him away, and they began to struggle in the water. Huo Zhanbai restrained her blood vessels to transfer his internal energy, but when Xue Ziye emerged, she slapped him hard and called him ugly, leaving Huo Zhanbai feeling even more wronged.

Xue Ziye risked herself to save Mo’er, but he hadn’t fully recovered, likely due to Qiu Shuiyin feeding him milk. Ultimately, the child would still suffer from severe illness.

Xue Ziye called Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuiyin to come. Before Qiu Shuiyin arrived, Huo Zhanbai sensed that she was about to discuss Mo’er’s condition. He pleaded with her to tell him first, explaining that Qiu Shuiyin had been exhausted and couldn't bear another blow. Hearing this, Xue Ziye bluntly said that Mo’er’s illness was beyond saving. Huo Zhanbai didn’t believe it at first, as Mo’er had improved significantly in the past two days.

However, Xue Ziye explained that from the very beginning, Mo’er’s illness was incurable. She had only tried her best, but without her efforts, Mo’er wouldn’t have survived this long. Qiu Shuiyin, who had been eavesdropping from outside the door, was devastated by what she overheard. Huo Zhanbai decided to pack up and take Mo’er to seek out another renowned doctor, and he begged Xue Ziye not to reveal the truth to Qiu Shuiyin, leaving her with a shred of hope.

Xue Ziye advised Huo Zhanbai to make a clean break and stop wasting energy, but Huo Zhanbai was determined not to give up and vowed to take care of both Qiu Shuiyin and Mo’er. Back in the room, Qiu Shuiyin wept uncontrollably as she looked at Mo’er, still swaddled in his blanket. She had broken her promise and fed Mo’er milk. Leaving Mo’er behind, Qiu Shuiyin left alone.

Huo Zhanbai noticed that the ring her master’s wife had left for her was placed next to Mo’er, which immediately raised his suspicions. Rushing to the back mountain, he found Qiu Shuiyin sitting at the edge of a cliff. She blamed herself, believing that if she hadn’t fed Mo’er, they wouldn’t be in this situation. In despair, she jumped off the cliff, pleading with Huo Zhanbai not to let Mo’er suffer through life in such pain.

Huo Zhanbai quickly jumped after her, saving Qiu Shuiyin with all his strength but falling into the ravine himself. Xue Ziye arrived and immediately took Qiu Shuiyin back to care for her, while sending people to search for Huo Zhanbai at the bottom of the cliff. Huo Zhanbai was eventually found, but he was severely injured. His condition was worsened by the internal energy he had transferred to Xue Ziye earlier.

Xue Ziye devoted herself to treating him, considering it a way to repay the debt. In Yuan Yi Palace, Zhang Wujue, the sect leader, had been hiding in the Western Kunlun region for many years, secretly practicing a brutal and powerful martial art. His five infamous disciples were notorious, and now they were returning, aiming to dominate the martial world. In the Asura Arena of Yuan Yi Palace, today’s order was to kill everyone around them except for themselves.

As soon as the command was given, chaos ensued, with everyone fighting for survival. Only Tong stood still at first, eventually joining the battle. Faced with vicious Tibetan mastiffs, Tong unleashed an astonishing power, and in the end, only two people remained. They were summoned to meet the sect leader. Several days passed, and Huo Zhanbai still hadn’t woken up. Xue Ziye heard him murmur about his junior sister and "Sixth Brother" in his delirium.

His mind had suffered severe trauma, preventing him from regaining consciousness. Qiu Shuiyin began recounting the events between Xu Chonghua and Huo Zhanbai. She had always wished for Huo Zhanbai to kill Xu Chonghua, believing that he didn’t care about Xu Chonghua’s fate. Now, she realized that wasn’t the case. Huo Zhanbai’s desperate attempts to save Mo’er reminded her of her past self. Back then, to save Xue Huai, she sought out Master Liao Qingran.

Late at night, Xue Ziye went to the library to search for information when she suddenly heard the news of Huo Zhanbai’s condition. He had severely damaged his heart meridians. Xue Ziye immediately performed acupuncture to save him, continuously telling him that she had found a way to save Mo’er and that only he could help. Just as she finished speaking, Huo Zhanbai woke up, having been unconscious for three months.

Qiu Shuiyin, who had been keeping watch outside, finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw he had awakened. Tong was brought before the sect leader, but he refused to kneel. Zhang Wujue gave them a choice: only one person could remain by his side. If both of them survived, they would be sent down the mountain. As dawn approached, the other person hadn’t attacked Tong, hoping to leave at daybreak and forget everything.

But Tong used his eyes to control the man, forcing him to take his own life. In Tong’s view, no one could be trusted, and naive people deserved to die.

Huo Zhanbai specifically went to find Xue Ziye to thank her. Previously, he had many misunderstandings about Xue Ziye, but seeing how wholeheartedly she worked to save the three of them, he realized she was a person who may appear cold on the outside but has a warm heart. His gratitude was sincere, but his request for the prescription was also genuine. Xue Ziye simply told him to wait until the next day.

She had already written the prescription but wasn’t sure if it could save anyone. After much consideration, Xue Ziye handed the prescription to Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuiyin. However, the five medicinal ingredients required by the prescription were scattered across the farthest reaches of the world, making it incredibly difficult to gather. Despite the immense challenges, Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuiyin still saw it as a glimmer of hope. Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuiyin decided to descend the mountain.

Xue Ziye told him she wouldn’t take back his Revitalization Token for now, but would do so once he gathered all five ingredients. Qiu Shuiyin had no intention of returning to the Dingjian Pavilion, knowing that going back would only bring more sorrow. She decided to take Mo’er to Xu Chonghua’s residence, as she knew Huo Zhanbai couldn’t take care of them forever. However, Huo Zhanbai was extremely serious about his promises.

As long as Mo’er wasn’t better, he wouldn’t consider anything else. Qiu Shuiyin apologized again, admitting that ever since Xu Chonghua left, she had harbored resentment in her heart, and she hoped Huo Zhanbai wouldn’t hold it against her. At Longmen Village, Xue Ziye was leading a group on a medical outreach mission and happened to encounter Huo Zhanbai.

Unexpectedly, Xue Ziye not only provided free medical consultations but also gave out free medicine and even helped the villagers’ children travel to the capital to take the imperial exam. The villagers were deeply grateful to her. Seeing this, Huo Zhanbai thought to himself that the rumors about her being greedy and lustful were rather amusing. Passing by a small shop, Huo Zhanbai treated a woman’s sprained ankle.

Her parents wanted to give him some food in return, but he quickly left on horseback. Miao Huo had Tong thoroughly washed and brought before Zhang Wujue. Zhang Wujue appointed Tong as the top assassin of Yuan Yi Palace and bestowed upon him a sword. Tong’s eye technique could manipulate others' minds, and Zhang Wujue wanted him to retrieve a precious treasure and reach a new level of mastery.

Zhang Wujue sought someone truly cold-hearted and ruthless, and now, Tong had become the most resilient weapon in his hand. When Tong was a child, Zhang Wujue had sealed three golden needles inside his body to lock away his past memories. Xue Ziye was sweeping snow off the memorial tombs. Everyone here was her family, and for all these years, she had personally taken care of this task, never allowing anyone else to help.

On the night of the Mo Family Village massacre, the entire village was slaughtered. After so many years, Xue Ziye had been investigating the truth behind that night. The poison on the dagger was the only clue, and she believed that one day the truth would come to light. A Jing, the head of the Shiyue Sect, led a group to the Pharmacist Valley, bringing with her the Revitalization Token and a payment of 100,000 taels for medical treatment.

The rule of the Pharmacist Valley was that only patients could enter, so A Jing dismissed her followers and entered alone. Upon meeting Xue Ziye, A Jing didn’t immediately ask for treatment. Xue Ziye quickly noticed that she showed signs of poisoning. Only then did A Jing speak seriously, admitting that Xue Ziye, as the master of the Pharmacist Valley, had remarkable skills and that her efforts to obtain the Revitalization Token were not in vain.

A Jing requested a few days' rest before undergoing treatment, but Xue Ziye was strict about her rules, leaving A Jing no choice but to comply. Huo Zhanbai and Tong passed by each other, coming from different paths but aiming for the same goal. Huo Zhanbai arrived at the Shiyue Sect, where the mountain was filled with miasma. He had to seal off his heart meridians before proceeding. Meanwhile, Tong also arrived at the same place.

Inside the ancient tomb of the Shiyue Sect, Huo Zhanbai immediately spotted the item he was searching for. Xue Ziye, having drugged A Jing unconscious, questioned her about the poisonous toad sand, asking if it was unique to the Shiyue Sect. A Jing confirmed this and also recalled hearing the previous sect leader’s plans to attack the Mo Family Village.

However, A Jing wasn’t sure whether the extermination of the Mo Family Village had truly been carried out by the Shiyue Sect. Huo Zhanbai retrieved the Lingzhi mushroom but also triggered the mechanisms inside the ancient tomb.

Xue Ziye was eager to learn the truth about the village massacre from A Jing, but A Jing’s emotions seemed unstable. In the midst of shouting, she suddenly woke up, forcing Xue Ziye to put away her own feelings. Meanwhile, Huo Zhanbai and Tong were fighting fiercely over the Lingzhi mushroom, locked in a deadly struggle.

Realizing that continuing like this was futile, as they were evenly matched, Huo Zhanbai summoned the snow ray and ordered it to carry the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi away. Just as Tong was about to chase after it, Miao Feng suddenly arrived and stopped him, claiming that Tong had been away too long and had failed his mission. He was no longer of any use.

Tong wanted to kill Huo Zhanbai before returning to face punishment, but Miao Feng warned that he could not disobey the orders of the sect leader. Xue Ziye was convinced that the truth of the village massacre was deeply connected to the Shiyue Sect. She once again used a mind-numbing incense to question A Jing, but A Jing had already realized something was off and had long since taken control of the Pharmacist Valley.

The poison in her body, she believed, must have been given to her by Xue Ziye. Xue Ziye did not deny it and could only give her the antidote. Xue Ziye merely hoped to learn the truth before her death, so she could die without regrets. A Jing told her that the Shiyue Sect had nothing to do with the massacre.

Although the sect had intended to take action against Mo Family Village, the village had already been destroyed before they had the chance. A Jing, moved by Xue Ziye's persistence, still intended to make a move against her. Fortunately, Xue Ziye had anticipated this, and everything that had happened earlier was merely an illusion. Xue Ziye did not want A Jing’s life and let her go, but she made her take her poison.

Xue Ziye would send the antidote regularly, only asking her to keep the secret of Mo Family Village. Now, without a clear direction, Xue Ziye felt lost. A Jing returned and told Xue Ziye that the Shiyue Sect had gathered a lot of intelligence, and she would return to check their records to see if there were any clues about Mo Family Village.

Xue Ziye was touched and revealed the truth: she had not poisoned A Jing but had given her a tonic instead. After this, Xue Ziye shared the story of her connection with Mo Family Village. She was not originally from the village, but it had become her second home. Years ago, after her mother was killed, the parents of Xue Huai took her in.

Over the course of seven years, they treated Xue Ziye like their own daughter, helping her to forget the pain of losing her mother. However, on the night of the massacre, Xue Huai tried to help her escape, but they fell into an icy river. When she woke up again, Xue Huai was motionless. A Jing, who had also experienced loss, felt a deep connection to Xue Ziye’s story.

A Jing, having been the Holy Maiden of the Shiyue Sect since childhood, had neither family nor friends, until she met someone with whom she had planned to run away and live a peaceful life. However, that person was killed. A Jing and Xue Ziye, both emotional people, became sworn sisters. Xue Ziye invited A Jing to stay an extra night in the valley to recover. The snow ray had already flown back to the Pharmacist Valley early.

The next morning, Huo Zhanbai also arrived, bringing the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi. The snow ray had already delivered it to the valley. Upon hearing this, Xue Ziye hurried back to the valley, as the head of the Shiyue Sect, A Jing, was still there! When A Jing discovered the sacred object of the Shiyue Sect in the Pharmacist Valley, her expression changed.

Xue Ziye and Huo Zhanbai rushed to the scene, but A Jing mistakenly believed that it was all part of Xue Ziye’s scheme. Although A Jing trusted Xue Ziye, as the leader of the Shiyue Sect, she had to give her disciples an explanation. She poured two cups of poisoned wine—one cup contained a deadly poison, while the other would not harm one's life.

Huo Zhanbai drank both cups, saying that since the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi was what he had sought, it had nothing to do with Xue Ziye. Xue Ziye didn’t have time to stop him and was quite angry. In truth, A Jing’s earlier threats had been bluffs, and it wasn’t as serious as she had claimed. However, Huo Zhanbai had already been poisoned by the poisonous toad sand while at the Shiyue Sect, and now he couldn’t hold on any longer.

Xue Ziye hurriedly took Huo Zhanbai into the medicinal hut for treatment. Seeing that the poison had already reached his lungs, she struggled to save him, but eventually managed to bring him back from the brink of death. A Jing wasn’t angry. In fact, she admired Huo Zhanbai for being an upright and honorable man. Huo Zhanbai had finally left behind the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi, but Xue Ziye knew that the prescription she had written might be completely useless.

It had been a temporary solution, but she hadn’t expected Huo Zhanbai to risk his life to get it. Xue Ziye didn’t know whether to tell him the truth. The old woman told her that the prescription was Huo Zhanbai’s hope. Miao Feng, who was playing chess with Xue Ziye, admired her strategy. Miao Shui, following along, found his actions rather curious but didn’t forget to remind him to return to the sect leader as soon as possible. Xue Ziye noticed that the chessboard had been tampered with and complimented him on his clever moves.

Huo Zhanbai unexpectedly woke up early after much turmoil, which surprised Xue Ziye. Xue Ziye, however, wasted no time in demanding that Huo Zhanbai pay double for her medical services. Huo Zhanbai was left speechless, especially when Xue Ziye started calculating the fees with an abacus. His heart ached at the thought of the cost but he could only try to appeal to her emotions.

Xue Ziye’s high charges were actually to support Pharmacist Valley, where the residents were mostly orphans. Seeing Xue Ziye drink the valley’s finest wine, Huo Zhanbai couldn’t resist asking for a cup as well, but Xue Ziye stopped him, explaining that the wine was extremely nourishing, and Huo Zhanbai’s body couldn’t handle it.

Refusing to give in, Huo Zhanbai intended to drink the wine and then head off in search of the next medicinal ingredient, unaware that his body hadn’t fully recovered. Xue Ziye noticed the jade pendant at Huo Zhanbai’s waist and wanted it as payment, but it was too important to him to be used that way. Xue Ziye then came up with another idea to settle the debt.

Huo Zhanbai became Xue Ziye’s living model for teaching the others, and having a real person made it much easier for Xue Ziye to demonstrate acupuncture. However, Huo Zhanbai found himself embarrassed in front of everyone. Xue Ziye, taking personal revenge, rendered Huo Zhanbai unable to speak or move for an hour. Yet, she didn’t expect Huo Zhanbai, with his strong internal power, to break free from the pressure points early.

Not only did he learn the three acupuncture points she had just taught, but he used them on her, immobilizing her and sitting next to her to enjoy the sun, which made Xue Ziye grit her teeth in frustration. In the icy wilderness, Tong lay on the verge of death, but Miao Xue, seeing him in such a state, had no intention of helping and instead laughed and mocked him.

When the sect leader learned about Miao Feng playing chess with Xue Ziye, he became furious and withheld Miao Feng’s antidote for the Ice Silkworm Poison this month. Miao Feng, once a member of the Sang royal family, had been brought back by the sect leader and taught secret techniques, but was also afflicted with Ice Silkworm Poison.

The poison felt like thousands of ants gnawing at his heart when it acted up, but despite Miao Xue’s intention to watch his suffering, Miao Feng remained unmoved. Xue Ziye realized that her hairpin was missing and thought she must have accidentally dropped it in the snow. That hairpin was a gift from Xue Huai, and she had not taken it off for many years. Late at night, Xue Ziye hurried out to search for it.

Huo Zhanbai came to say goodbye, but she ignored him. When he caught up to her, he noticed she was searching for something, so he quietly lit the path ahead to illuminate her way. Xue Ziye, seeing the road lit by wind lanterns, was momentarily lost in thought. A Jing and Huo Zhanbai were both preparing to leave.

Xue Ziye asked Huo Zhanbai to escort A Jing, reminding him that since he had been staying in her valley for free, he ought to do something in return. Huo Zhanbai repeatedly apologized to A Jing and mentioned their encounter with Tong, noting that he seemed determined to obtain the Lingzhi. A Jing replied that the Lingzhi had already been used, and it was now useless for anyone to try and steal it.

She also revealed that the Lingzhi had been used to save Xue Ziye’s beloved. Huo Zhanbai misunderstood, and late that night returned to the cold spring of Pharmacist Valley, where through the ice he saw Xue Huai. Xue Ziye rushed to the scene after hearing about it and demanded that he leave immediately. Huo Zhanbai questioned her about the whereabouts of the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi, suspecting that she had used it to save someone who was already dead.

Xue Ziye was deeply hurt by his words and, in a hysterical outburst, drove him away. The misunderstanding deepened, but Feng Lv, who was always blunt, took Huo Zhanbai to see the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi. The plant was missing a piece, which had been used to save Huo Zhanbai that day. Not only that, but Huo Zhanbai kept provoking Xue Ziye, insisting that Xue Huai was dead, which enraged Xue Ziye.

The old woman also came to persuade him, explaining that everyone knew the person under the ice was dead, and even Xue Ziye understood this, but she refused to face it and didn’t need anyone else to point it out. Learning the truth, Huo Zhanbai wanted to apologize to Xue Ziye but, after thinking it over, decided it was better to leave since she was still furious. Unable to apologize in person, Huo Zhanbai wanted to do something to make amends.

Upon learning that Huo Zhanbai had already left, Xue Ziye guessed that others had spoken too much again, because if Huo Zhanbai hadn’t figured out the matter with the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi, he wouldn’t have left. Ning Granny protected the others and also comforted Xue Ziye. Xue Ziye, though stubborn, claimed that the matter was over, but she was still worried about whether she could find the Silver Bell Hairpin.

When Xue Ziye went to the snow to search for the hairpin, she happened to find Huo Zhanbai lying in the snow, meticulously looking for it as well. He was startled when he saw her. Huo Zhanbai intended to apologize, but as the weather in the valley was unpredictable, before they could say much, the wind and snow intensified. Xue Ziye's expression changed, and she hurriedly tried to leave, but it soon became impossible to move forward.

The two had no choice but to take shelter in a cave. Xue Ziye told Huo Zhanbai to take off his cloak and gave it to herself, hiding in a corner, grumbling that every time she met him, nothing good happened, and now they were trapped in the snowstorm. Huo Zhanbai apologized for the Seven-Leaf Lingzhi incident, and Xue Ziye, feeling somewhat guilty, acknowledged that she shouldn’t have hidden the truth from him.

Xue Ziye’s cold affliction acted up, and her coughing worsened. Seeing this, Huo Zhanbai braved the storm to gather some firewood and lit a fire to warm her up. The sky had already turned dark outside, and the storm raged on, making it impossible for them to leave.

Xue Ziye was worried that Ning Granny and the others would come looking for her, but Huo Zhanbai reassured her, saying that they knew she was out searching for the hairpin and might have guessed that the two of them were together. Besides, with Ning Granny in charge back in the valley, there shouldn’t be any problems. In the valley, Xue Ziye was still shivering. Huo Zhanbai pulled out a flask of wine, suggesting it could ward off the cold.

Speaking of "Xiao Hongchen" wine, Huo Zhanbai teased Xue Ziye about being stingy, and the two bantered back and forth. Xue Ziye had long noticed that Qiu Shuiyin was the one Huo Zhanbai truly loved, and though he denied it, Xue Ziye knew better. She handed the wine to Huo Zhanbai, noticing that he seemed cold too. Sharing a flask of wine, they could now consider each other friends.

Huo Zhanbai then shared his story with Xue Ziye, telling her about him and Qiu Shuiyin. Orphaned at a young age, Huo Zhanbai had been taken in by the Tianshan Sect, but he never expected Qiu Shuiyin to leave and marry Xu Chonghua. Later, when he went to Dingjian Pavilion, he unexpectedly reunited with Qiu Shuiyin there. Now that Xu Chonghua was gone, Qiu Shuiyin and Mo'er were the closest children to him.

Xue Ziye, feeling a bit drowsy, listened as Huo Zhanbai told stories to pass the time, and she began to think of Xue Huai. Xue Huai had saved her twice—first by giving her a home, and the second time by sacrificing his life to save her. Xue Ziye had worked hard to master medicine, all in the hope of waking Xue Huai.

Yet, sometimes, she was also afraid—the storm was so fierce that she feared she wouldn’t survive until that day. Xue Ziye was growing weaker, and Huo Zhanbai made a solemn promise that he would never let anything happen to her. After saying that, Huo Zhanbai went to the cave entrance and used his body to block the cold for her. The next morning, Huo Zhanbai was covered in snow and was woken up by the call of a snow ray.

Xue Ziye was still sound asleep. Huo Zhanbai quickly rushed to her side to confirm she was still breathing. The fire on the ground had long gone out. He carried Xue Ziye on his back and started making his way back to Pharmacist Valley. Unfortunately, they slipped, and Huo Zhanbai used his body to protect her. During that moment, Xue Ziye finally stirred, murmuring Xue Huai’s name in her sleep.

As Xue Ziye’s breathing weakened, Huo Zhanbai sent the snow ray to find help, while he channeled his internal energy into her. Finally, people from Pharmacist Valley arrived. With Ning Granny’s help, Xue Ziye was pulled back from the brink of danger. Ning Granny was also very grateful to Huo Zhanbai, acknowledging that it was thanks to his protection that Xue Ziye was able to escape this ordeal.

The next morning, as usual, Xue Ziye went to collect dew and noticed the equipment Huo Zhanbai had made for her to collect the dew. It saved her a lot of time, and she couldn’t help but think that this “Number One Swordmaster of the Central Plains” was also pretty good at woodworking! Huo Zhanbai planned to head to Yangzhou to seek medicine and came to bid farewell to Xue Ziye.

Over the past few days, Huo Zhanbai had been avoiding her, not coming to see her, so Xue Ziye took the opportunity to throw a few sarcastic remarks at him. She gave him a flask of "Xiao Hongchen" wine as a way of returning the wine they had shared in the cave and reminded him not to come back if he got seriously injured again, saying she didn’t have the energy to take care of him.

Fetching the Qingluan Flower was indeed challenging. The last time it was easier because A Jing wasn’t at the sect, which was a bit of a stroke of luck, but this second ingredient was truly difficult. The snow ray returned, bringing something to Xue Ziye along with a letter. Huo Zhanbai, on the day he tried to wake Xue Ziye, had lied by saying the wooden branch in the snow was her hairpin.

To make amends, he crafted a wooden hairpin for her. As Xue Ziye carefully examined the wooden hairpin in her hand, she realized that Huo Zhanbai’s woodworking in the courtyard that day had been for this. While on the road, Huo Zhanbai ran into a couple he had once helped, and he greeted them warmly as Brother and Sister Meng. They invited him to stay for a drink.

Meanwhile, A Jing returned to the sect to investigate the matters of Mo Family Village, but the records had already been corroded, leaving her in a difficult situation. How could she explain this to Xue Ziye? Miao Huo came to find Tong, as the Sect Leader instructed him to make amends for his previous failures. If this mission failed again, the consequences would be unimaginable. Along his journey, Huo Zhanbai stopped by to visit Qiu Shuiyin and Mo'er.

A few years had passed, and Mo'er had grown a bit older and was now able to speak. Mo'er was reluctant to take his medicine, so Huo Zhanbai helped Qiu Shuiyin coax him into drinking it. After seeing the two, Huo Zhanbai prepared to resume his journey to find the medicine, and Qiu Shuiyin reminded him to be cautious on his trip to Yangzhou.

When Huo Zhanbai arrived in Yangzhou City, he saved an old man who had fallen into the water, but the old man was ungrateful. He had fallen into debt due to illness, and his daughter had been sold to a brothel. Huo Zhanbai told the old man that instead of seeking death, he should focus on how to save his daughter.

Huo Zhanbai inquired about the location of the brothel and coincidentally found his senior brothers there, smashing the place with the intention of rescuing the girls forced into prostitution. The madam was unwilling to release them, so Huo Zhanbai tore up the contracts and gave her some silver. Only after Liu Feifei, the famous painter, spoke up did the madam agree to let the girls go.

Huo Zhanbai reunited the girl, Ting’er, with her father and gave them some silver to help them live a better life. Huo Zhanbai met up with two of his brothers for a small gathering. They were there to capture Qin Tiancheng, a traitor from Yuanyi Palace, who had stolen the Qingluan Flower from Baiyun Palace. Huo Zhanbai pretended to offer his assistance and subtly inquired about the whereabouts of the Qingluan Flower.

The Sect Master gave them some clues, but neither of them could make sense of it. After examining the situation, Huo Zhanbai realized that it was connected to Liu Feifei, but he first needed to divert his two brothers. The fourth brother was reluctant to work with Huo Zhanbai, still holding a grudge over matters involving Xu Chonghua. The group parted on poor terms, but Huo Zhanbai didn’t expect that they would leave without settling the bill.

Short on money, Liu Feifei ended up paying for his drink. She expressed that she also wanted to rescue those girls, but being entrenched in the mundane world, she couldn’t act herself. The payment for the drink was her way of thanking him. As night fell and lanterns were lit, Tong was lurking in the shadows. Huo Zhanbai arrived at the brothel to listen to music, and sure enough, Qin Tiancheng and the people from Yuanyi Palace were meeting there.

Qin Tiancheng had defected because he was unwilling to be just one of the Seven Stars—he wanted to be the only one. When Qin Tiancheng revealed the Qingluan Flower, Huo Zhanbai swiftly appeared and snatched it away. At the same time, Huo Zhanbai sent a message to his junior brother, Zhou Xingzhi, confessing that he had deceived him about the true location of the transaction.

He explained that the Qingluan Flower was of great importance, and once his mission was complete, he would plead his case to the Sect Master. Zhou Xingzhi and his team hurried to Linglong Flower Realm. However, after Huo Zhanbai left, Tong disguised himself as Huo Zhanbai and re-entered Linglong Flower Realm. Just as Qin Tiancheng, influenced by Huo Zhanbai’s words, was about to turn over a new leaf, Tong killed him with one swift strike.

Qin Tiancheng’s body was thrown from the upper floor, and with his dying breath, he claimed that Huo Zhanbai had stolen the Qingluan Flower and murdered him. Huo Zhanbai became the scapegoat. Sect Master Lin was furious and wanted nothing more than to find Huo Zhanbai immediately.

While Zhou Xingzhi trusted his senior brother, Sect Master Lin found Huo Zhanbai’s letter, which made it seem as though he had killed to seize the flower, and he swore to make Huo Zhanbai pay with his life. Liu Feifei, sensing something was amiss, accidentally found clothes left behind by Tong.

After completing his mission, Tong encountered those pursuing Huo Zhanbai and helped him unblock his acupoints, not forgetting to call him a useless fool. Zhou Xingzhi was extremely anxious, knowing that Huo Zhanbai would never intentionally kill someone—this was absolutely not his doing. Although Xia Qianyu usually didn’t get along with Huo Zhanbai, he knew his temperament. Xia Qianyu decided to split up with Zhou Xingzhi.

Zhou would try to stop Sect Master Lin, while Xia would stay to investigate further. In the Medicine Master Valley, Xue Ziye was deeply focused on studying medical techniques when A Jing delivered a letter, reporting that she was still investigating. After reading the letter, Xue Ziye furrowed her brow. Just then, Huo Zhanbai unexpectedly returned—without a single scratch.

Xue Ziye thought he had failed in his mission, but Huo Zhanbai, not the least bit humble, started drinking and recounting the process of retrieving the Qingluan Flower. Xue Ziye didn’t want to hear any nonsense and demanded that he hand over the flower. Huo Zhanbai decided to rest for a while before searching for the next ingredient. But before he could finish speaking, someone broke into the valley.

Huo Zhanbai, not wanting to implicate the Medicine Master Valley, was ready to handle the situation himself. However, Xue Ziye ordered her people to open the valley gates and receive the guests with respect. When they met Sect Master Lin, they realized the situation was worse than expected. Huo Zhanbai admitted to taking the flower but was shocked to hear that Sect Master Lin believed he had killed Qin Tiancheng.

Huo Zhanbai vehemently denied the accusation, but his words fell on deaf ears. Sect Master Lin refused to believe him. Xue Ziye firmly stood by Huo Zhanbai, knowing he was not the type to commit senseless murder. Sect Master Lin insisted that Qin Tiancheng had accused Huo Zhanbai of killing him with his dying breath. Huo Zhanbai carefully analyzed the situation, and Xue Ziye continued to support him.

Today, she was determined to break the rules and intervene in these affairs. Sect Master Lin, however, was not willing to spare Huo Zhanbai and immediately drew his sword, pointing it at Huo Zhanbai. The sword pierced his body, but Huo Zhanbai did not dodge—he hadn’t killed anyone, so why should he hide? Just as the tension reached its peak, a figure identical to Huo Zhanbai appeared, riding in on horseback. Huo Zhanbai instantly recognized him as Xia Qianyu.

During his investigation, Xia Qianyu had met Liu Feifei, who found the situation suspicious and discovered clues, including the use of a disguise technique. Sect Master Lin reluctantly chose to believe them for the time being. Huo Zhanbai then explained the purpose of the Qingluan Flower and asked for mercy, promising that if Baiyun Palace ever needed his help, he would risk his life to repay them.

Sect Master Lin agreed, considering his actions to be in the spirit of righteousness, done for the sake of an old friend's child. Afterward, the group dispersed. Xue Ziye took Huo Zhanbai to the medical hut to treat his sword wound. Xia Qianyu, his eyes lighting up when he saw Xue Ziye, followed them into the Medicine Master Valley, claiming he was there to pay for Huo Zhanbai's treatment.

As Xue Ziye stitched up Huo Zhanbai’s wound, the anesthetic wore off, and he groggily woke up. Seeing her gently applying medicine to his wound, Huo Zhanbai’s ears suddenly turned red. Embarrassed, he suggested getting someone else to treat him, but Xue Ziye had already seen every inch of him. Xia Qianyu waited outside the medical hut for a long time with no news.

He inquired with Shuang Hong and the others, confirming that Huo Zhanbai's search for medicine for Mo'er was genuine. Guilt washed over Xia Qianyu, and he rushed in to embrace Huo Zhanbai, realizing that he had misjudged him. He had thought Huo Zhanbai was indifferent to Xu Chonghua’s death, but now he saw how deeply loyal and righteous he was.

Huo Zhanbai, still recovering from his injury, needed care, and Xia Qianyu volunteered, though his eyes stayed fixed on Xue Ziye. That night, as the two drank together, they spoke of the Eight Swords being scattered. Now, only Xia Qianyu and Zhou Xingzhi were available at any time to serve Dingjian Pavilion. Huo Zhanbai felt guilty for not doing more for the pavilion. Xue Ziye saw them drinking but did not stop them.

After all, Huo Zhanbai had traveled all over the world for years, and it was rare for him to sit and have a drink with his brothers. Meanwhile, Tong completed the task for Miao Huo. He acted decisively, and as a reward, the Sect Leader allowed him to enjoy the pleasures of Heavenly Paradise, where everyone would obey his commands. Miao Huo was displeased with this and angrily chased after Tong, scolding him for a long time. Miao Shui then led Tong to the legendary Heavenly Paradise, describing it as the most luxurious of all places.

Xia Qianyu lingered nearby like an infatuated fool, watching Xue Ziye as she busied herself. Seeing this, Huo Zhanbai quickly pulled him away. Xia Qianyu’s notorious romantic escapades were well-known throughout the martial world. Huo Zhanbai warned him not to bother Xue Ziye, but Xia Qianyu, completely lacking self-awareness, believed that Xue Ziye would surely fall for him. He paid no attention to Huo Zhanbai’s advice.

Xia Qianyu, like a peacock showing off its feathers, appeared in front of Xue Ziye at every opportunity. Sometimes, he would perform sword dances for her, and other times, he would gift her small golden figurines, leaving Huo Zhanbai in utter disbelief. Xia Qianyu even went so far as to commission a gold hairpin for Xue Ziye and proudly dragged Huo Zhanbai to see it, only to be stunned when Xue Ziye accepted the gift.

She then brought Xia Qianyu to the medical hut, leaving Huo Zhanbai outside. Xue Ziye wasn’t there to flirt—she was there to settle accounts. Xia Qianyu had claimed upon entering the valley that he was there to repay Huo Zhanbai’s debts, so she took the gifts as partial payment. However, it still wasn’t enough, and Huo Zhanbai’s debts were now transferred to Xia Qianyu. Despite this, Xia Qianyu did not give up.

Huo Zhanbai sipped the wine from the valley, feeling that it tasted bitter. He remarked that the gold hairpin didn’t suit Xue Ziye—gold was too gaudy. She deserved something better. Xue Ziye, he said, was more suited for a white jade hairpin, symbolizing purity and resilience. Just then, Xia Qianyu rushed in, wanting to drink with them, but Xue Ziye quickly excused herself, leaving Huo Zhanbai to chase after Xia and join him for drinks.

The two drank heavily, and Xia Qianyu soon fell into a deep sleep. In his slumber, he mistook Huo Zhanbai for Xue Ziye, murmuring her name in his dreams. Huo Zhanbai, unable to stand it, kicked him off the bed. Xia Qianyu’s gold was not enough to cover the 200,000 taels of debt, so Xue Ziye produced a jade pendant to fund the expenses of Medicine Master Valley.

While passing by, Huo Zhanbai accidentally learned the truth—Xue Ziye had counted the gold as payment for the debt. Feeling relieved, he invited Xue Ziye to share a drink under the moonlight. Tonight, the wine was exceptionally sweet, and Huo Zhanbai’s smile was genuine. He asked Xue Ziye why, despite being so money-minded, she only treated ten patients.

Xue Ziye answered honestly, explaining that her body couldn’t handle more, and besides, she didn’t like dealing with people from the martial world. Huo Zhanbai then asked, "So why did you save me? " Xue Ziye seriously studied his face and replied, "Of course, because your face has something worth appreciating. " Huo Zhanbai invited her to drink together, but Xue Ziye refused, saying she preferred drinking alone.

Little did Huo Zhanbai know, after he fell asleep, Xue Ziye gently clinked her cup against his, which he had left on the table. The murder of Qin Tiancheng was being discussed by the Pavilion Master and Sect Master Lin. They suspected that the real culprit, who had impersonated Huo Zhanbai, might be Tong and that the crime had ties to Yuan Yi Palace.

After years of peace, it seemed the martial world was on the brink of another bloody storm. During his practice, Zhang Wujue suddenly experienced a chaotic surge of internal energy, causing him to cough up blood. Fortunately, Miao Feng returned just in time to save him. Without Miao Feng, Zhang Wujue would not be able to break through the ninth level. After recovering for some time, Huo Zhanbai couldn’t wait to leave the valley and search for the next medicinal ingredient.

Xue Ziye handed him the small golden figurine, instructing him to hold it in his right hand for the duration of an incense stick’s burning time before he could leave. Gritting his teeth, Huo Zhanbai struggled but eventually gave in, agreeing to take more medicine for a few more days. Someone then reported that Xia Qianyu had caused trouble by mistaking a medicinal herb for a flower and plucking it.

Xue Ziye sent both of them to gather herbs to fill the gap left behind. On the way, Huo Zhanbai advised Xia Qianyu to give up on pursuing Xue Ziye, but Xia Qianyu quickly noticed Huo Zhanbai’s unusual feelings for her. He remarked that even a stone-hearted person could eventually bloom.

Xia Qianyu decided to give up and planned to return to Dingjian Pavilion the next day, not forgetting to call Huo Zhanbai an emotionally dense blockhead, even though he hadn’t realized his own feelings. Huo Zhanbai returned with a basket full of herbs and eagerly asked Xue Ziye for some hot tea.

Xia Qianyu told Huo Zhanbai that he had seen over a hundred burial mounds in the back mountain and that the person who erected the mounds was Xue Ziye herself. He urged Huo Zhanbai to go and take a look—perhaps they could offer some help. When Huo Zhanbai reached the back mountain, he saw over a hundred burial mounds belonging to the people of Mo Village, reminding him of the massacre that had wiped out the village. Such a cruel and inhumane act—who could have been behind it?

After Huo Zhanbai learned about Xue Ziye's background, he grew increasingly anxious. No wonder she had always avoided answering his questions about how she ended up in Medicine Master Valley. Huo Zhanbai picked up his brush and wrote a letter to his master, hoping to obtain clues regarding the massacre of Mo Village. Xue Ziye had gone out and returned at dawn, having just collected rootless water.

Xia Qianyu, who was about to leave, had learned from Feng Lv that Xue Ziye had been treating the surrounding villages and had helped many children. He realized he had misunderstood her and intended to bid her a proper farewell. Huo Zhanbai advised him against it, worried that it might lead to the topic of Mo Village.

Xue Ziye instructed Huo Zhanbai to get a physical examination, saying that if there were no major issues, he could soon recover and leave. Today, Huo Zhanbai was unusually quiet, unlike his usual chatty self. He looked at Xue Ziye with newfound sympathy, realizing that she had been carrying so much burden on her own. Huo Zhanbai had mostly recovered and was finally ready to set out in search of the next medicinal ingredient.

Xue Ziye gave him a jar of her homemade wound medicine and, despite her tough demeanor, reminded him not to die, as his debt had not yet been repaid. When bidding farewell to Xia Qianyu, the latter apologized once more for what had happened earlier, admitting that his anger over his Fifth Brother’s matter had somewhat unjustly affected Huo Zhanbai. After Huo Zhanbai left, Xue Ziye took out his wooden hairpin to try it on.

While tidying the guest room, she found Huo Zhanbai’s wine flask had fallen, and she recalled the scene of them drinking together that night, a faint smile appearing on her face. When passing by Brother Meng's house, a few people invited Huo to stay and have a drink with them. While there, someone had injured their leg, so Huo Zhanbai offered them the wound medicine Xue Ziye had given him.

As he wandered around year after year, rarely settling down, Brother Meng sent him off with plenty of wine. Tong unleashed a massacre in the Heaven Kingdom Paradise, killing everyone. This was because Zhang Wujue had personally told him that the people there were at his disposal. Zhang Wujue was not angry; on the contrary, he seemed quite satisfied. Qiu Shuihe, the leader of the Tianshan Sect, received a letter from Huo Zhanbai mentioning the massacre of Mo Village.

While Huo Zhanbai was searching for medicine for Mo'er, Qiu Shuihe descended from the sky to deliver the sought-after herb to him. In Qiu Shuihe's eyes, both Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuiyin were like his own children. The road ahead was treacherous, and Qiu Shuihe didn’t want Huo Zhanbai to carry such a heavy burden. He needed to feel reassured.

Qiu Shuiyin and Mo'er were likely at Medicine Master Valley seeking treatment, so Huo Zhanbai invited Qiu Shuihe to accompany him to the valley to check on the mother and son. When the topic of Mo Village came up, Qiu Shuihe’s eyes flickered, and he claimed not to have any leads. Qiu Shuiyin brought Mo'er for treatment, but each time, they seemed to miss Huo Zhanbai. Xue Ziye arranged for her to stay in the valley.

On the road, Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuihe were ambushed by Yuan Yi Palace, and Huo Zhanbai was severely poisoned. While Xue Ziye was collecting dew, she suddenly felt uneasy and looked worriedly toward the road outside the valley. Not long after, Qiu Shuihe arrived, carrying Huo Zhanbai, who was slumped over the horse's back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Huo Zhanbai was gravely injured, and Xue Ziye quickly began treating him.

Qiu Shuihe reunited with Qiu Shuiyin and Mo'er, handing over the dragon tongue herb to Xue Ziye, as Huo Zhanbai had instructed before he fell unconscious. Over the years, Huo Zhanbai had returned time and again with medicinal ingredients, often either poisoned or utterly exhausted, as if he never tired. Unknowingly, a deeper connection had developed between Xue Ziye and Huo Zhanbai.

When Huo Zhanbai woke up, his first concern was his master and Mo'er's medicine, but his throat was damaged, leaving him unable to speak. Xue Ziye sarcastically remarked that it was good he would be speaking less. She then noted that while Huo Zhanbai didn’t seem worried about being disabled for life, he immediately grew anxious when told he couldn’t retrieve the medicine right away.

Xue Ziye approached Huo Zhanbai, asking him to remove his clothes so she could perform scraping therapy (gua sha) on him. Huo Zhanbai, feeling flustered, grabbed the tool and insisted on doing it himself. However, seeing that his technique was clumsy, Xue Ziye took over and performed the treatment herself. Although his throat had improved, it still hurt a lot. This time, Huo Zhanbai had been injured while saving Qiu Shuihe, whom he viewed as his own father, so naturally, he had given it his all.

Once Huo Zhanbai regained some strength, he went to visit Qiu Shuiyin and Mo'er. Mo'er still remembered him and was overjoyed. Qiu Shuihe specially thanked Xue Ziye for saving both Huo Zhanbai and Mo'er. When Xue Ziye noticed that Qiu Shuihe was constantly coughing, she took his pulse. She diagnosed him with a long-term liver stagnation caused by worry and overexertion, which had turned into a chronic illness over the years.

Qiu Shuihe explained that he had exhausted himself for the Tianshan Sect and was also worried about the future of Qiu Shuiyin and Mo'er. Xue Ziye, feeling compassionate, remarked how similar Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuihe were as master and disciple. Qiu Shuihe decided to accompany Huo Zhanbai on the quest for medicine, as he was Mo'er’s grandfather and could not sit idly by.

Qiu Shuihe had thoughts of retiring, as seeking medicine might harm the reputation of the Tianshan Sect. Huo Zhanbai didn’t want Qiu Shuihe to take such risks, but Qiu Shuihe was determined. Yuan Yi Palace sent assassins to kill Qiu Shuihe, as Zhang Wujue's malicious intentions had not subsided. Huo Zhanbai quickly wrote to the pavilion master, asking him to inform the major sects.

A Jing also wrote to Xue Ziye, sending along a severely injured witness, and Xue Ziye immediately dispatched people to intercept them on the way. Feng Lv was curious, wondering if Xue Ziye and Huo Zhanbai had arranged their return at the same time. The day Huo Zhanbai returned, Xue Ziye had lingered at the entrance of the valley for a moment, as if she knew he would come back. Huo Zhanbai felt a bit proud when he heard this.

While passing by, he saw Xue Ziye soundly sleeping on a lounge chair, so he gently tucked in her blanket but accidentally woke her. Huo Zhanbai could tell that Xue Ziye had something on her mind. Although he didn’t know what it was, he believed she could handle it. Hearing this, Xue Ziye felt as though the clouds had parted, and her mood brightened considerably. Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuiyin taught Mo'er swordsmanship.

Qiu Shuihe had once told Huo Zhanbai that one must never dishonor the sword in their hand. Seeing this, Xue Ziye found the scene quite heartwarming. Soon, the person A Jing had sent arrived, but she had been in a coma for three years. After examining her, Xue Ziye diagnosed her with a condition of false heat and true cold. She prescribed a remedy and warned that no one should know about this person, especially not Huo Zhanbai.

Xue Ziye felt unsettled, unsure if the patient would wake up. If the clues were cut off, she didn’t know where to start her investigation again. From afar, the sound of a flute floated through the air, calming her heart. She knew the player was her chess companion but didn’t insist on meeting him. The patient woke up and, after reading A Jing's letter, agreed to tell Xue Ziye everything.

Huo Zhanbai brought Xue Ziye some of Brother Meng’s wine, which Xue Ziye enjoyed. Upon hearing that Brother Meng’s daughter was pregnant, she planned to prepare some supplements for Huo Zhanbai to take to them when he left the valley. Drinking alone was a bit dull, so the two played a drinking game, and Xue Ziye lost. Huo Zhanbai asked her what she had been waiting for at the entrance of the valley that day.

Unexpectedly, Xue Ziye replied that she had been waiting for a foolish roe deer. Over the years, the deer had always come to lie at the valley entrance whenever it was injured. Huo Zhanbai lost the game and Xue Ziye teased him, asking if he really had no money to pay off his debt, even suggesting taking the jade pendant from his waist as collateral.

Huo Zhanbai explained that the pendant was a gift from Qiu Shuihe and could not be used to settle debts. When he was younger and had lost a martial arts competition, feeling upset, Qiu Shuihe had not only taught him a lesson but also given him one of a pair of jade pendants, with each of them keeping one. However, Qiu Shuihe’s pendant had been lost years ago.

It turned out that Xue Ziye had received a clue that the person who had stolen the poisonous toadstone years ago had a jade pendant like this, but it was still uncertain whether it was Qiu Shuihe. Xia Qianyu wrote to Huo Zhanbai, informing him that he had investigated Xue Ziye’s background and suspected that the incident involving Mo Village might be a lingering pain in her heart.

Xue Ziye told Huo Zhanbai that his injuries had healed, and it was time for him to set off again. Both had their own thoughts, and their expressions were heavy. After saying goodbye to Qiu Shuihe and Qiu Shuiyin, Huo Zhanbai left. Feng Lv even brought a medicine chest as a special gift. Huo Zhanbai found it odd, as this was the first time Xue Ziye had urged him to seek medicine.

He happened to run into some children from the village and learned that Xue Ziye had something important to do today and hadn’t gone to the village for her usual free clinic. Xue Ziye used a bewitching incense to put Qiu Shuihe into a trance, intending to uncover the truth about the Mo Village massacre. At that moment, Huo Zhanbai rushed over to stop her.

The truth about Mo Village’s destruction was of utmost importance to Xue Ziye, but Huo Zhanbai trusted his master’s character. He pleaded with her to give him one more day, promising that he would provide her with an explanation.

When Qiu Shuihe woke up and saw Huo Zhanbai had returned, he was astonished. Xue Ziye used the excuse that Qiu Shuihe had fainted due to poor health and had asked Huo Zhanbai to return to take care of him. Grandma Ning remarked that Huo Zhanbai was a sensible child with no bias. Some things must be faced head-on, but she wondered how Qiu Shuihe would answer Huo Zhanbai’s questions.

Huo Zhanbai thought deeply for a long time and, late at night, went to Qiu Shuihe’s room, saying he wanted to spend some time with him. Ever since he joined the Dingjian Pavilion, the master and disciple had seen each other less and less. Huo Zhanbai intentionally brought up A Jing, the leader of the Shiyue Sect, and Qiu Shuihe mentioned that they had met once.

Huo Zhanbai repeatedly steered the conversation toward the topic of Mo Village, but Qiu Shuihe replied that he had lost his jade pendant in the sixth year of Huijia, not the fourth year. Sensing something was off with Huo Zhanbai, Qiu Shuihe became angry and sent him away. Qiu Shuihe lingered outside Xue Ziye’s room for a long time. Xue Ziye appeared and told him that the patient inside was a guard from the Shiyue Sect.

She had uncovered information linking Mo Village to the stolen poisonous toadstone. The guard had seen the thief, and if he woke up, he could identify the person. Xue Ziye asked Qiu Shuihe to be a witness for her. Qiu Shuihe immediately made an excuse that something urgent had come up in the sect and that he had to leave the next day. Huo Zhanbai sought out Qiu Shuiyin and asked when Qiu Shuihe had lost his jade pendant.

Qiu Shuiyin clearly remembered that it had been in the fourth year of Huijia. Late that night, Qiu Shuihe snuck into the medicine hut intending to silence the witness, but Xue Ziye arrived just in time to stop him. She revealed that she was the sole survivor of the Mo Village massacre! Qiu Shuihe was shocked, realizing that he couldn’t escape this fate. He confessed that he had ordered the massacre at Mo Village in a moment of weakness.

That year, he had led people to Mo Village in search of a child with extraordinary abilities. He had no intention of killing anyone, but things suddenly went wrong. Someone was killed, and the villagers surrounded them. Qiu Shuihe had planned to leave, but a fire broke out in the village. The villagers accused them of acting dishonorably under the guise of righteousness. To protect the reputation of the Tianshan Sect, Qiu Shuihe ordered the massacre.

For many years, Qiu Shuihe had lived in regret for his actions. He was willing to admit his wrongdoing to Xue Ziye, but when she demanded that he publicly confess, he refused. He was determined to protect the name of the Tianshan Sect. Xue Ziye was heartbroken. Now that she had finally uncovered the truth, her sole goal was to have the culprit confess! Qiu Shuihe, unwilling to do so, drew his sword, ready to make another mistake.

Huo Zhanbai rushed in just in time to block the blow for her. Qiu Shuihe turned to leave, but he was assassinated by Tong. Fortunately, Huo Zhanbai and Xue Ziye arrived in time and found that he was still breathing. After a moment of internal conflict, Xue Ziye decided to save him. By morning, Qiu Shuihe’s life was spared. Huo Zhanbai explained the events to Qiu Shuiyin, saying he would report the matter to the Dingjian Pavilion.

After all, everyone must pay for the wrongs they have done. With the truth finally revealed, Xue Ziye returned to Xue Huai but sent a jar of *Xiao Hongchen* wine to Huo Zhanbai. Huo Zhanbai then visited Grandma Ning, knowing how much sorrow Xue Ziye held in her heart, and asked her to comfort Xue Ziye. That night, Grandma Ning visited Xue Ziye’s room.

Xue Ziye indeed didn’t know how to face Huo Zhanbai, but what was rare and precious was that they both always thought of each other. Although Qiu Shuihe had committed a grave mistake, Xue Ziye still treated him, for which Qiu Shuiyin was deeply grateful. She knelt to plead for mercy, but Xue Ziye couldn’t forgive Qiu Shuihe. Zhou Xingzhi and Xia Qianyu arrived, intending to take Qiu Shuihe back and let the pavilion master decide his fate.

Qiu Shuihe knew that in his final moments, it was Xue Ziye who had saved his life, but he felt undeserving of such kindness due to the sins he had committed. In the end, Qiu Shuihe decided to publicly confess the crimes he had committed against Mo Village and apologize to the world.

Before the people of the Dingjian Pavilion took him away, Qiu Shuihe went to the burial site on the back mountain to offer his apologies to the villagers of Mo Village, admitting his guilt. He was willing to accept the punishment he deserved and be scorned by the world, hoping that the spirits of the villagers could find peace. At the entrance of Yaoshi Valley, Qiu Shuihe advised Huo Zhanbai not to blame himself for these events.

Instead, he was grateful that Huo Zhanbai had handed him over to the Dingjian Pavilion. He told him that no matter what he encounters in the future, he must always put righteousness first. Qiu Shuihe then set out with Xia Qianyu and Zhou Xingzhi to the Dingjian Pavilion, while Huo Zhanbai was about to embark on another journey in search of medicine.

Xue Ziye gave Huo Zhanbai a horse that she had spent a fortune on purchasing a few years ago, and she also had someone tell him that the horse was a gift from a patient. Huo Zhanbai drank alone, clearly feeling downcast. Xue Ziye brought him a bowl of sweet soup to drink, reminding him that not everything in life is just about right and wrong—there are also matters of emotion.

After all, Qiu Shuihe was his master, yet he had still chosen fairness, and Xue Ziye was deeply grateful. Huo Zhanbai immediately recognized that the horse was a rare breed from the Western Regions, not the one Xue Ziye had claimed was from a patient. Still, he accepted the medicine she had prepared for Brother Meng, along with a safety charm meant for Chu'er's child.

Shuang Hong's stitching skills were unmatched, so Xue Ziye gave her the silver needles, entrusting her with the responsibility of passing on the stitching techniques of Yaoshi Valley in the future. As Huo Zhanbai passed through a bustling marketplace, he saw a piece of jewelry that he wanted to give to Xue Ziye. After Tong failed his mission, Zhang Wujue ordered him to reflect on his mistakes in the sunlight.

Miao Shui informed Zhang Wujue that there was still one survivor from Mo Village—Xue Ziye. Upon hearing this, Miao Feng's expression changed dramatically. Zhang Wujue found it amusing, as Qiu Shuihe had now taken the blame, saving them a lot of trouble. Many years ago, it was Miao Feng who had hunted down Xue Ziye and Xue Huai. After completing his punishment, Tong was ordered by Miao Feng to redeem himself by retrieving the head of the Wanderer.

Meanwhile, Old Li, suffering from a severe headache, climbed alone to Yaoshi Valley. His son had gone to Qingling for work, and Huo Zhanbai had also gone to Qingling. Xue Ziye asked a few more questions and learned that there had been an avalanche in Qingling. Her hand, which was in the middle of applying acupuncture, suddenly paused. Huo Zhanbai had been caught in the avalanche, but Xue Ziye's horse had saved him from the snow.

As a second avalanche loomed, Huo Zhanbai mounted the horse with the medicine in hand, but suddenly his vision went dark. He leaned close to the horse's ear and told it to return to Yaoshi Valley. In Yaoshi Valley, Xue Ziye waited day and night for news of Huo Zhanbai, but he never appeared on the road leading to the valley.

One morning, as Xue Ziye was gathering dew, the horse rushed back to the valley, dragging Huo Zhanbai behind it. Panic surged in Xue Ziye’s heart as she hurried back to the valley, where she found Huo Zhanbai unconscious at the entrance. Xue Ziye stayed by his side day and night, treating him. When Huo Zhanbai woke up, he was terrified to find that he couldn't see. Xue Ziye reassured him that it was snow blindness and only temporary.

Calming down, Huo Zhanbai immediately asked about the medicine, but Xue Ziye was heartbroken. She once again questioned whether she should have ever given him the formula, as it had caused him to risk his life and get hurt again and again over the years. It would take three months for Huo Zhanbai’s eyesight to recover, and during that time, Xue Ziye promised to come daily to perform massages for him.

There was only one last medicinal ingredient left, but it had been lost for many years. Even if they set out to search for it now, they might not be able to find it. Since Huo Zhanbai couldn’t see at the moment, he decided to stay in Yaoshi Valley and rest properly. Huo Zhanbai asked Xue Ziye to fetch his personal belongings, and from them, he took out a hand warmer and placed it in Xue Ziye's hands.

Xue Ziye accepted it, though she pretended to scold him for not repaying his debts. Yet, day after day, she held onto that hand warmer. Xue Ziye was still searching for a cure for Mo’er, perhaps thinking she had overlooked something in the past. Granny Ning saw through it at a glance—Xue Ziye didn’t want Huo Zhanbai to take any more risks, so she had deliberately used a slow treatment method for his eye condition.

Over the years, Xue Ziye had carried guilt for Huo Zhanbai repeatedly falling into danger, but Granny Ning told her that the cure was the hope of all three of them, and it had kept them going until now. With his vision lost, even drinking a cup of water was a struggle for Huo Zhanbai. Hearing some noise outside, he groped his way out of the house.

The path outside was lined with wooden bells, guiding Huo Zhanbai to the medicine hut. Xue Ziye was there brewing medicinal wine for him, and as soon as Huo Zhanbai smelled the scent of the medicine, he hurried over to help. Brewing medicinal wine required snow from plum blossoms, and Huo Zhanbai suggested a method to quickly gather the snow. He then had Xue Ziye gather everyone to try it.

After the containers were set, Huo Zhanbai used his inner strength to shake the snow off the trees. Taking advantage of the moment, he pulled Xue Ziye into his arms, leaving the onlookers stunned. The surprise in Xue Ziye’s eyes quickly turned to joy. Tong completed Zhang Wujue’s mission, and Zhang Wujue asked him what he wanted as a reward. Tong replied that he wanted control of the Xiuluo Arena.

Tong’s wish was granted, and he took charge of the arena. However, at night, he found himself staring absentmindedly at a silver bell hairpin he had picked up at Yaoshi Valley. The sound of the bell seemed very familiar to him. Tong slept so soundly that he didn’t even notice Miao Shui by his side. Huo Zhanbai accidentally overheard that there was a faster way to treat his eye condition, yet Xue Ziye hadn’t used it.

Startled, Huo Zhanbai pressed Xue Ziye to heal his eyes quickly and asked why she had delayed his treatment. The last medicinal ingredient might be impossible to find, even if it cost Huo Zhanbai half his life. Xue Ziye felt deeply conflicted and didn’t know how to respond. In the end, Xue Ziye did cure Huo Zhanbai’s eye condition more quickly. The two of them had known each other for many years, and Huo Zhanbai understood Xue Ziye.

She always had her reasons for doing things, but when it came to Mo’er, the stakes were high. Xue Ziye didn’t send Huo Zhanbai off, as she still needed to visit the village to treat the people there. When the people of Yaoshi Valley arrived at the village, they found it lifeless, with no trace of the villagers. Carefully opening one of the doors, Xue Ziye found poisonous smoke inside and many villagers unconscious.

Hearing noises outside, they quickly shut the door. Xue Ziye overheard Miao Shui and Miao Huo talking about Mo Village and Qiu Shuihe during their mission. Anger surged in Xue Ziye’s eyes. They had the village children with them, so today, they absolutely couldn’t let them leave. Hearing them mention Mo Village, Xue Ziye was desperate to uncover the truth. At that moment, Huo Zhanbai arrived just in time to help.

Seeing the situation, the people from Yuan Yi Palace chose to retreat. Huo Zhanbai told Xue Ziye to return to Yaoshi Valley while he went to save the children. However, Xue Ziye insisted on going with him to uncover the truth behind the village's destruction. Huo Zhanbai reassured her, saying he would definitely find out the truth about Mo Village and rescue Xiao Long and the others. Xue Ziye quickly calmed down.

Inside Dingjian Pavilion, Xu Chonghua was exchanging letters with the Pavilion Master. He advised the Pavilion Master not to send anyone to handle the child abduction case, as the true goal was to assassinate the Pavilion Master.

Huo Zhanbai, Zhou Xingzhi, and Xia Qianyu met on the way to rescue the children. Huo Zhanbai was worried that with them out of the pavilion, only the Pavilion Master would remain inside, but fortunately, the Pavilion Master already had a plan. Miao Shui was bathing in the house when she heard a noise outside and told Miao Huo to go and check it out. Seizing the opportunity, Xia Qianyu climbed onto the roof and took Miao Shui’s clothes.

After Zhou Xingzhi secretly took the children away, Miao Shui sensed that something was wrong. Meanwhile, Miao Huo had been lured away and encountered Huo Zhanbai, feeling somewhat aggrieved. Huo Zhanbai’s goal was to get information, and sure enough, it was Yuan Yi Palace that had massacred the entire Mo Village and framed Qiu Shuihe for the crime. Before Huo Zhanbai could get all the details, Tong suddenly appeared and engaged in a fight with him.

Seeing the situation worsen, Huo Zhanbai quickly rode away. Zhou Xingzhi sent a letter to inform Xue Ziye that the children had been rescued. For the time being, they were being sent to Dingjian Pavilion, and they would be returned later. However, the letter didn’t mention anything about Huo Zhanbai. During his battle with Tong, Huo Zhanbai was injured and once again rode his horse toward Yaoshi Valley.

Along the way, he tore a piece of his clothing and wrote a message revealing that Yuan Yi Palace was the real culprit behind the village massacre, sending it back to Yaoshi Valley with Xue Yao. When Xue Ziye received the message, she was extremely anxious. She guessed that Huo Zhanbai must have been gravely injured and collapsed somewhere along the way, so she followed Xue Yao to find him, disregarding her own cold illness.

When Xue Ziye found Huo Zhanbai, he was lying motionless in the ice and snow, with a sword wound on his chest still bleeding. Xue Ziye quickly administered first aid, but her cold illness had already flared up, and she needed to return to Yaoshi Valley immediately. However, Xue Ziye had to treat Huo Zhanbai as soon as possible, or he would die right there!

Ignoring her own condition, Xue Ziye took medicine to suppress her cold illness, knowing that the backlash from the medicine would be a hundred times worse after it wore off. Yet, to save Huo Zhanbai, it was worth it. Xue Ziye applied acupuncture to him, but he still didn’t wake up. Terrified, she held his face and angrily scolded him for letting down Mo’er and her, though her voice was full of concern.

Fortunately, Huo Zhanbai made a sound—he was still alive. Huo Zhanbai woke up, but Xue Ziye had been away from Yaoshi Valley for too long and needed to return immediately. Huo Zhanbai rode with her back to the valley, where Granny Ning treated her in the medicine hut. Huo Zhanbai waited outside until Granny Ning assured him that Xue Ziye’s life was no longer in danger and that she would wake up in a few days.

Years ago, Xue Ziye and Xue Huai had drifted to Yaoshi Valley after spending a night in the ice and snow, which left Xue Ziye with a cold illness. Master Liao prescribed a remedy for her, but now the effectiveness of the remedy had weakened, and she could only rely on the hot springs in the valley for relief. After this incident, it seemed that it would be difficult for Xue Ziye to leave the valley again.

Granny Ning’s words filled Huo Zhanbai with guilt, but he didn’t know what he could do for Xue Ziye. So, he spent his days chopping wood and warming her bed. After a while, Xue Ziye finally woke up, and as soon as Huo Zhanbai heard the news, he dropped his axe and rushed over.

He was worried about Xue Ziye’s cold illness, but Xue Ziye lazily lounged on a chair, saying that today was the day the epiphyllum would bloom, and she warned Huo Zhanbai not to make any noise and disturb the flower. As they joked with each other, the epiphyllum bloomed, and Xue Ziye curiously leaned forward to admire it. Huo Zhanbai, however, couldn’t take his eyes off Xue Ziye, telling her not to be reckless next time.

The epiphyllum’s bloom was fleeting, which Xue Ziye found a bit melancholic, but for Huo Zhanbai, as long as they could seize that brief moment of beauty, it wasn’t a regret.

Huo Zhanbai was staring intently at Xue Ziye, but she suddenly burst out, asking why he had been so absent-minded lately—wondering if he was suffering from aftereffects. Huo Zhanbai restrained himself and made an excuse to leave. The epiphyllum’s bloom lasted just a fleeting moment. Zhang Wujue was furious with Tong for risking his own safety, so he locked Tong in the cage where the snow mastiffs were kept as punishment. Tong harbored deep resentment in his heart.

Everyone was worried about Xue Ziye, but seeing her come outside for some fresh air put their minds at ease. They eagerly asked to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival together with her. The atmosphere in Yaoshi Valley was lively as everyone gathered to celebrate the festival. Huo Zhanbai placed a warm mooncake in front of Xue Ziye, while she gazed at the moon, and Huo Zhanbai, without blinking, gazed at her.

Xue Ziye asked everyone to bring her some new and interesting things when they returned the next day. Shuang Hong initially wanted to stay and accompany her, but Xue Ziye refused and even sent Huo Zhanbai away as well. Miao Shui told Tong that all five disciples of Yuan Yi Palace had come here at some point.

She was curious whether Tong was human or a monster—after all, if he were human, anyone would have collapsed after going through such experiences. Xue Ziye was too frail to leave the valley, so Huo Zhanbai suggested moving the town’s market into the valley. Xue Ziye was stunned to see the bustling scene before her. Huo Zhanbai approached her with a bouquet of candied fruits and then accompanied her to stroll through the market.

Passing by a stall where sugar paintings were made, Xue Ziye asked the artist to paint a fierce-looking figure, though her eyes drifted towards Huo Zhanbai. The group also made some flower-patterned rice cakes for Xue Ziye. Huo Zhanbai had remembered her saying that freshly made rice cakes were the most delicious, so tonight, she could eat as much as she wanted. Xue Ziye found these rice cakes particularly tasty, and it reminded her of her childhood in Mo Village.

Huo Zhanbai didn’t spend any money—the villagers had voluntarily come to repay Xue Ziye’s kindness. Fireworks went off in the distance, and Xue Ziye knew that this was also Huo Zhanbai’s doing. Tong was released from the snow domain and brought before Zhang Wujue, where he received another scolding. Tong also accidentally discovered that Miao Shui had been enduring inhuman torture at Zhang Wujue’s hands—the scars on her body, big and small, were all his doing.

Lanlan, Xiao Cheng, and Shuang Hong had been working even harder since Xue Ziye got injured. Huo Zhanbai saw Xue Ziye strolling around the valley and, realizing he couldn’t be of much help, approached her to ask about identifying antidote herbs, but Xue Ziye saw right through him.

She led Huo Zhanbai to a narrow path and instructed him to take down all the lanterns that had been guiding the way, saying that if it hadn’t been for his lanterns, she wouldn’t have made it out. Remembering the first time Huo Zhanbai came to Yaoshi Valley, Xue Ziye couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about how time flies. She took down the containers that had been collecting dew, as they were no longer needed.

She had finally let go of her attachment to Xue Huai and now understood the good intentions of Master Liao. Huo Zhanbai brought Xue Ziye to the mountaintop, a perfect spot he had spent days searching for. As they admired the breathtaking sunset, Xue Ziye’s mood brightened. The vastness of the horizon and the radiant sky filled her with a sense of freedom.

Suddenly, Xue Ziye had a thought—perhaps she should live for herself, and she hoped Huo Zhanbai would live for himself too. However, after meeting Xue Ziye, Huo Zhanbai’s new vision had become one of ridding the world of evil.

When Xue Ziye was about to return, Xiao Cheng discovered that the dead branch she cherished had broken. Xiao Cheng was terrified and didn’t know what to do, but when Xue Ziye came back, she simply said, “It’s fine,” and then took the broken branch and sat by the ice all night. When Granny Ning heard about this, she took the initiative to talk to Xue Ziye.

The one Liao Valley's master wanted to save was not Xue Huai, but the young Xue Ziye, whose heart had withered like dead wood. Xue Ziye reflected on how well-intentioned her master had been, while she herself had been too stubborn to realize it until now. Over the years, Granny Ning had constantly advised Xue Ziye to let go of the past. Now that she saw Xue Ziye truly letting go, she felt at peace.

Xue Ziye remarked that the tea at that moment should be replaced with wine, so she grabbed a jar of wine and went to find Huo Zhanbai. Coincidentally, Huo Zhanbai was also bringing wine to bid her farewell. After finishing this last cup of wine, Huo Zhanbai was preparing to leave to search for the final medicinal ingredient.

It was uncertain whether he could obtain the Dragon’s Blood Pearl, but Huo Zhanbai urged Xue Ziye to take good care of herself and told her to let him know what she wanted when he returned, as he still owed her a debt of gratitude that must be repaid. One day, Xue Ziye received a sapling, which Huo Zhanbai had sent back from Mo Family Village via a snow ray.

Xue Ziye carefully planted it in a pot and tended to it with care. When Huo Zhanbai arrived at Brother Meng’s house, it wasn’t the best time, as his wife and family had already gone to bed. Brother Meng warmed up some food and wine, and the two drank until they were fully satisfied. Over the years, Huo Zhanbai had come and gone in a hurry, and Brother Meng hoped that he could finally settle down.

Huo Zhanbai also hoped for a good outcome this time. Zhang Wujue wanted to advance the Five Mingzi assessment, as he had grown tired of seeing the same faces and wanted to see some fresh ones. Miao Feng’s martial arts were the best among the Five Mingzi, and every year, it seemed he was merely playing along. The tasks were issued, and the martial world was once again plunged into a storm of blood and violence.

Huo Zhanbai went to visit Mo’er, who had grown a bit taller. Qiu Shuiyin was very worried about Qiu Shuihe and felt heartache for her son. Now, only the last medicinal ingredient remained, and the end was near. Qiu Shuiyin hoped that after Huo Zhanbai found the medicine, he would come to live in Guazhou, but Huo Zhanbai refused.

He explained that he had been so focused on searching for the medicine these past years that he hadn’t fulfilled his responsibilities as a disciple of Dingjian Pavilion. Mo’er wanted to go to the market, so Huo Zhanbai and Qiu Shuiyin took him there. They were mistaken for a family of three, but Huo Zhanbai explained that he was Mo’er’s uncle.

Recently, a traveling doctor had arrived, and Qiu Shuiyin wanted to take Mo’er to see him, so Huo Zhanbai accompanied them. This traveling doctor was none other than Liao Qingran, the master of Yaoshi Valley. Huo Zhanbai noticed that the jade she carried was very similar to that of Yaoshi Valley and asked if she knew a famous doctor with the surname Liao. Liao Qingran coldly denied it.

She could tell that Mo’er was beyond saving, but after hearing about the prescription Xue Ziye had written, she chose not to reveal the truth. After bidding farewell to Qiu Shuiyin and Mo’er, Huo Zhanbai thought about Liao Qingran’s words. Liao Qingran and Dingjian Pavilion’s Fifth Brother, Wei Fengxing, had retired from the martial world and lived together in seclusion. Their relationship was unexpectedly sweet, and no one had imagined they would end up together.

Passing through the Linglong Flower World, Huo Zhanbai specifically sought out Liu Feifei to thank her and unexpectedly saw the girl, Ting’er, whom he had saved years ago. However, she had voluntarily returned. After her father’s death, she had been betrayed by a man and, with no other options, returned here. Huo Zhanbai had come here looking for someone—a wealthy businessman with the surname Liu—to inquire about the whereabouts of the Dragon’s Blood Pearl.

Miao Huo’s mission had failed, but unexpectedly, Tong had completed the task for him and brought back the head of the White-Browed True Man. Miao Huo couldn’t understand why Tong had helped him. However, upon returning to Yuanyi Palace, Zhang Wujue immediately saw that Miao Huo hadn’t been the one to kill the man. Miao Kong hadn’t returned either, having been eliminated in this assessment.

Zhang Wujue gave Miao Kong another chance, forcing him to duel with a person brought back from the Shura Arena. This outstanding warrior successfully killed Miao Kong and took his place. Zhang Wujue then ordered him to remove his mask in front of everyone, only to discover that he was none other than Xu Chonghua, the Sixth Sword of Dingjian Pavilion!

Back then, when Xu Chonghua fell off the cliff, he didn’t die. He entrusted Mo’er and Qiu Shuiyin to Huo Zhanbai because some time ago, Xu Chonghua had found the Pavilion Master and decided to go undercover in Yuanyi Palace to assist Dingjian Pavilion and serve as a role model for his fellow disciples. After eight years of lying low, Xu Chonghua was getting closer to Zhang Wujue, and the day to kill him was approaching.

The Pavilion Master position would soon be his! Tong had helped Miao Huo because they shared the same thought—if Tong hadn’t helped Miao Huo this time, he would have already been devoured by the war dogs. In Zhang Wujue’s eyes, they were no different from beasts—one moment alive, the next dead. Tong didn’t want to spend his life kneeling like a dog.

Miao Huo clearly had the same thought, but he knew that Zhang Wujue was not someone easily rebelled against! Miao Shui, who had heard everything, appeared at this moment, declaring that she also wanted a part in killing Zhang Wujue. They weren’t the only ones in the palace who wanted to rebel, but most of them were useless. Only Tong was different.

Miao Shui told them that the Dragon Blood Cold Pearl could break Zhang Wujue’s Iron Horse Ice River technique. After learning the whereabouts of the Dragon Blood Pearl, Huo Zhanbai bid farewell to Liu Feifei and set off once more to search for medicine. The days of travel continued, and Xue Ziye remained in Yaoshi Valley, calmly drinking her wine. Another New Year’s Eve arrived, and Huo Zhanbai couldn’t help but think of Xue Ziye.

How are things in the valley? Meanwhile, Xue Ziye unknowingly wandered to the valley entrance, gazing into the distance. Yaoshi Valley prepared a lively New Year’s Eve feast, and everyone gathered around Xue Ziye, chatting noisily. The atmosphere was especially warm. The snow ray had returned to Yaoshi Valley with a letter, but it was blank. Xue Ziye understood; sometimes, silence spoke louder than words.

Zhang Wujue had finished his closed-door training, but he hadn’t broken through the ninth level of the Iron Horse Ice River technique. So, he ordered them to go to the Central Plains and bring back all those born at noon to help him complete his breakthrough. After leaving Yuanyi Palace, Xu Chonghua quietly went to visit Qiu Shuiyin and Mo’er. Mo’er had grown a lot and was clamoring to see Huo Zhanbai, but Xu Chonghua showed no emotion.

On his way back to Yuanyi Palace, Miao Kong passed by Brother Meng’s house with a child born at noon. By chance, he learned that Brother Meng’s grandson was also born at noon, so he knocked out Brother Meng and his family and took both children. However, Zhang Wujue found that these children were of no use to him, so he killed them all.

Unwilling to give up, Zhang Wujue summoned Miao Shui to his bed, but unexpectedly, his internal energy went out of control, causing him to cough up blood. Hearing the commotion, Miao Feng rushed in to heal him. After obtaining the Dragon Blood Pearl, Huo Zhanbai encountered the Twelve Wings, who attempted to steal it but were easily defeated by Huo Zhanbai’s sword. Soon after, Tong, who had been plotting for a long time, appeared to snatch the pearl.

Tong was determined to get the Dragon Blood Pearl, and the battle between the two experts left them both injured. Huo Zhanbai didn’t have the upper hand because Tong used his eyes to control him. At the critical moment, the snow ray appeared and woke Huo Zhanbai, allowing him to retrieve the Dragon Blood Pearl. At this moment in Yaoshi Valley, Xue Ziye was brewing wine.

By the time this batch of Smiling in the Dust was ready, Huo Zhanbai should have returned. Meanwhile, Huo Zhanbai collapsed not far from Yaoshi Valley, clutching the Dragon Blood Pearl in his hand. With his last breath, he sent the snow ray to find Xue Ziye. Snow piled thickly on Huo Zhanbai’s body, and Xue Ziye and her companions hurriedly arrived.

Though gravely injured, Huo Zhanbai’s first thought was to hand the Dragon Blood Pearl to Xue Ziye, knowing that as long as she was there, he wouldn’t die. Xue Ziye urgently ordered him to be taken back for treatment, but she couldn’t help but worry—what use was the pearl, even if they had it? Just as she was about to leave, Xue Ziye heard heavy breathing from behind a rock. It was Tong, also severely injured.

Xue Ziye had never seen this man before, but he seemed strangely familiar. Tong opened his blue eyes and looked at Xue Ziye with a pleading gaze, begging her to save him.

Huo Zhanbai woke up in Yaoshi Valley once again. Xue Ziye was visibly upset—this time, his injuries were much worse than before. It had taken a lot of time just to patch up all the holes in his body. She even gave Huo Zhanbai a particularly harsh medicine, making it temporarily difficult for him to speak normally. As she spoke, Xue Ziye began applying medicine to the wounds on his face.

After all, he had only one Return to Heaven Token but had been treating his injuries here for eight years. If not for the redeeming features of Huo Zhanbai's face, Xue Ziye would have kicked him out long ago. Huo Zhanbai muttered under his breath, “You cruel woman, so fierce. ” Xue Ziye gave him anesthetic powder to drink, warning that it would hurt soon, but no matter the pain, he had to endure it.

Huo Zhanbai still struggled to get up, so Xue Ziye asked Shuang Hong and the others to help him to the medicinal bath. Meanwhile, Granny Ning was treating Tong. With her help, Tong's condition was not critical. Xue Ziye instructed Shuang Hong to light calming incense as soon as Tong woke up to soothe his spirit and prevent him from hurting others.

She also ordered that no one should look directly into his eyes and, most importantly, that Huo Zhanbai must not know that Tong was also in the valley. With the medicine retrieved, Huo Zhanbai was in a lighter mood and more talkative. He urged Xue Ziye to go ahead and refine the medicine. Xue Ziye wanted to explain the truth to him, but Huo Zhanbai interrupted, saying she should just follow her plan, regardless of the medicine's effectiveness.

Xue Ziye’s gaze was filled with sorrow. If one day Huo Zhanbai learned the truth, how would she face him? When Tong woke up, he was highly alert, finding himself in an unfamiliar place. He immediately took Xiao Cheng hostage, threatening Shuang Hong and the others to take him to see Xue Ziye. Xue Ziye arrived just in time, and when Tong saw her, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, both in her voice and appearance.

However, Tong soon fainted again. When he woke up the next time, he was delirious but still instinctively grabbed Xue Ziye by the throat. She was shocked, unable to believe what kind of torment Tong had endured. Suddenly, a flash of blue light appeared in Tong's eyes, and Xue Ziye became even more certain—this person before her was none other than Mingjie! Xue Ziye lit Tihu incense to calm Tong’s mind.

Due to Zhang Wujue’s long needles, Tong had no memory of Xue Ziye, only that her eyes seemed familiar. But Xue Ziye recognized him and vowed to do everything in her power to heal him. Excitedly, she told Xue Huai that she had found Mingjie, though she didn’t know what he had gone through to lose all memory of the past. Xue Ziye was determined to help him recover.

Huo Zhanbai’s leg still hadn’t healed, and no one had come to visit him. Xue Ziye had been absent for several days. Feng Lv awkwardly mentioned that a new patient had arrived, and Xue Ziye was busy treating him. In an effort to awaken Tong’s memories, Xue Ziye used the Mind Reflection technique on him. However, Tong’s emotions became increasingly agitated, leaving Xue Ziye surprised by his reactions.

It wasn’t until she discovered three golden needles embedded in his acupoints that she realized someone had sealed his memories! The needle in his Baihui acupoint was particularly dangerous—removing it could lead to death, leaving Xue Ziye with a severe headache. When Huo Zhanbai started cursing, Xue Ziye finally arrived to treat him. His body was already at its limit.

Xue Ziye advised him not to exhaust himself for others any longer, reminding him that she couldn’t take care of him for his entire life. Upon hearing Xue Ziye say that he needn’t come to Yaoshi Valley anymore, Huo Zhanbai panicked. Hadn’t he already repaid his debt with his life? How could he not return! The first golden needle had been removed, but Tong remained resistant to recalling his past.

Under a plum tree, Huo Zhanbai and Xue Ziye sat drinking amidst the birdsong and fragrant flowers, but Xue Ziye’s mood didn’t seem cheerful. She appeared to be drowning her sorrows in alcohol. Huo Zhanbai performed a sword dance for her, wishing to help her resolve her worries. In order to repay her, he offered to take on the responsibility of protecting Yaoshi Valley, even taking care of all the miscellaneous tasks.

Amidst the beauty of the scene, Huo Zhanbai spoke earnestly about his feelings. For the past eight years, he had awakened countless times in unfamiliar places, only to find himself alone, surrounded by coldness and eerie silence. But now, things were different. There were flowers, wine, snow, and Xue Ziye. That was enough. Xue Ziye asked if he had any regrets after running around so much for Mo'er.

Huo Zhanbai in turn asked her if she regretted anything for Xue Huai. They both silently answered, "No regrets. "The two drank together until the sky darkened. Xue Ziye, now drunk, cursed him as a fool and then guiltily apologized. Huo Zhanbai watched the scene before him—eight years had passed, and it had been a long time since he felt such peace.

Huo Zhanbai held Xue Ziye in his arms, covering her with his cloak to keep her warm. If only they could stay like this forever, he thought. The next day, Tong woke up but kept complaining of a headache. Shuang Hong and the others thought it best to inform Xue Ziye. However, when Shuang Hong and Feng Lv went to find her, they saw Huo Zhanbai holding Xue Ziye as she slept peacefully, like a scene from a painting.

Xue Ziye slowly opened her eyes, and though she realized she was in Huo Zhanbai's arms, she didn’t seem angry. Instead, she curled her lips into a smile. But once Huo Zhanbai woke up and hadn’t yet figured out what was happening, Xue Ziye harshly pushed him away. Huo Zhanbai felt annoyed—just last night, she had been as gentle as a kitten, but now she was acting like this again. Xue Ziye hurried off to check on Tong.

Though Tong had regained part of his memory, he vehemently resisted the idea of being Mingjie. Xue Ziye took out the silver bell hairpin, knowing that if Tong had picked it up, it meant that, deep down, he remembered her and Mo Family Village. Suddenly, Tong flew into a rage and grabbed Xue Ziye by the neck. But to his surprise, Xue Ziye was unafraid of his eyes, and he immediately passed out again.

All day, Huo Zhanbai worried that Xue Ziye was still angry with him. He pried some information out of Feng Lv and learned that the new patient in the valley was someone Xue Ziye had ordered to keep secret from him. Curious, Huo Zhanbai went to find Xue Ziye, but she was on high alert around him. To divert his attention, Xue Ziye asked him to go with her to gather medicinal herbs in the back mountains.

Before leaving, Xue Ziye instructed Shuang Hong and the others to find Granny Ning and bring Tong to the hot spring to remove the second golden needle. Two hours later, when Xue Ziye returned to the valley, the second needle had already been removed, leaving only the final one. However, the third needle was deeply embedded in Tong's brain, and Xue Ziye had no confidence in removing it. She feared losing her younger brother Mingjie again.

If someone could open Tong’s meridians, it might help her force out the third needle, but because of the complicated history between Tong and Huo Zhanbai, Xue Ziye didn’t want to make things difficult for him. When Tong woke up, he remembered his time in Mo Family Village. By accident, his eyes had killed someone, and his grandfather had ordered him to be locked in a small wooden cabin in the back of the mountain.

Tong confirmed that these were his memories, but both Mo Family Village and Yuanyi Palace had imprisoned him in dark, sunless rooms! Huo Zhanbai accidentally found Tong’s sword and suddenly realized that the patient in the valley was an assassin from Yuanyi Palace. When Tong demanded that Xue Ziye hand over the Dragon Blood Pearl, Huo Zhanbai arrived just in time to save her.

Xue Ziye stepped in front of Huo Zhanbai’s sword to stop him from harming Tong, insisting that Tong was her younger brother, Mingjie. Xue Ziye’s hand was injured, and Huo Zhanbai carefully bandaged it for her. Xue Ziye finally revealed the truth. She believed that once the three golden needles were removed, Tong would have a complete change of heart. Tong was taken away by Zhang Wujue, and Xue Ziye had been restless ever since.

She and Xue Huai hadn’t made it in time to save him. Huo Zhanbai repeatedly warned her that harboring a tiger could come back to haunt her. With Tong staying in the valley, Huo Zhanbai couldn’t bring himself to leave. Late at night, Xue Ziye came to his door but didn’t know what to say. Xue Ziye planned to stay in the library for a few days.

Granny Ning was very concerned, fearing that Xue Ziye might exhaust herself over something impossible to achieve. Even the most skilled doctors are still human, not gods. Upon hearing that Xue Ziye had been staying in the library the whole time, Huo Zhanbai became anxious and wanted to see her. Shuang Hong and Feng Lv told him that Xue Ziye didn’t want to burden him, so she was in the library searching for another solution.

Huo Zhanbai struggled with his feelings. If he saved Tong and Tong continued to commit evil deeds, wouldn’t he be betraying Dingjian Pavilion? However, his inner conflict didn’t last long before he heard the news that Xue Ziye had fallen ill. He rushed over to help heal her. Granny Ning remarked that this illness of Xue Ziye’s was no trivial matter, yet Xue Ziye stubbornly continued to search through medical texts for a solution, even while sick.

Huo Zhanbai, seeing Xue Ziye so determined, knew he couldn't persuade her otherwise. In the end, he made up his mind to help her remove Tong's third needle—he trusted Xue Ziye. Huo Zhanbai was doing this for her, but if Tong ever killed again, he would not let him off. Huo Zhanbai used his power to open Tong's meridians, though Tong's reaction was intense. Deciding to act quickly, Huo Zhanbai hastened to expel the silver needle.

Amid the pain, the silver needle was removed, and Tong regained all his memories. The second time Tong killed, it was because he had been harmed by the villagers. The villagers had wanted to gouge out his eyes, and despite the repeated pleas from Xue Ziye and Xue Huai, nothing could be done. Later, Zhang Wujue appeared, taking Tong away and ordering the massacre of Mo Family Village.

After the silver needle was removed, Tong fell into a deep sleep, and Xue Ziye stayed by his side, never leaving him until he woke up. During this time, Huo Zhanbai also stayed close to Xue Ziye, not leaving her side. Tong, having recovered all his memories, remembered his little sister, Ye-jie. All that had happened over the years felt like a dream. Xue Ziye had always wanted to tell him that she was sorry.

That night, she hadn’t been able to return in time to save Tong, which allowed Zhang Wujue to take him away, subjecting him to inhuman torture. From now on, no matter what happened, Xue Ziye promised to face it with him. Tong would remain in the Apothecary Valley, free to do whatever he wished. The wrongs of the past had already happened, and Xue Ziye would stay by Tong's side to atone together.

Tong bore many old injuries, even his eyes suffered from pain. Xue Ziye patiently treated him, while Huo Zhanbai, standing by, felt a pang of jealousy but said nothing. Xue Ziye took Tong to the ancestral graves in the back mountains to pay respects, but she didn’t understand that Tong held no feelings for the villagers of Mo Family Village.

They were the ones who had locked him in the small, dark house, forcing him to live a life without sunlight. Xue Ziye had wanted to move Mingjie’s tombstone, but Tong told her to let it remain, to stay with the villagers since it was because of him that Mo Family Village had met its fate. Xue Ziye didn’t want Tong to be trapped in the past as she once was—she hoped he could move forward.

While Huo Zhanbai was drinking in frustration, Xue Ziye came to join him. Though the golden needle had been removed, the assassin Tong had not necessarily disappeared. Huo Zhanbai was deeply worried about whether Xue Ziye could warm his heart. In a dark corner, Tong clenched his fists. There was no going back for him now. He secretly met with Miao Huo; the Dragon Blood Pearl had yet to be obtained.

Miao Huo informed him that Zhang Wujue’s recent seclusion seemed strange, and internal power struggles within the sect were brewing. They needed to move faster. By chance, Tong saw Xue Huai encased in ice. He begged Xue Ziye to give him the Dragon Blood Pearl; otherwise, Miao Huo’s life would be in danger. Xue Ziye found herself in a difficult position, as the Dragon Blood Pearl had been retrieved by Huo Zhanbai.

However, if Zhang Wujue saw that Tong hadn’t returned soon, he would take action, and Tong didn’t want to implicate Apothecary Valley. Still, Xue Ziye could see that Mingjie hadn’t truly come back. Xue Ziye asked Tong to take the Dragon Blood Pearl to the capital and stage his own death so that Zhang Wujue would believe he had died, erasing Tong’s identity for good.

The next day, Tong took the Dragon Blood Pearl from Xue Ziye and prepared to go to Yuanyi Palace to kill Zhang Wujue. But Xue Ziye, who had seen through everything, sealed his acupoints, rendering him unable to move. No matter what Tong said, Xue Ziye was determined not to let him return to that hellish place in Yuanyi Palace. Tong was no longer Mingjie, and he refused to trust Xue Ziye. He had only ever believed in himself.

Tong no longer trusted Xue Ziye; he only believed in himself. Huo Zhanbai's voice sounded from outside, and Xue Ziye tapped the acupoint to leave and find him. Huo Zhanbai had come to bid farewell. Mo'er’s illness could no longer be delayed. Xue Ziye told him that Mo’er’s medicine would be ready the day after tomorrow, and Huo Zhanbai, still not fully recovered from his own injuries, should rest for a few more days.

Huo Zhanbai handed the token from the Dingjian Pavilion to Xue Ziye. Tong was Xue Ziye’s younger brother, and even though he had committed murder and evil deeds, at least with the token, the people from Dingjian Pavilion would not trouble him. Still, Huo Zhanbai was worried about Tong and repeatedly warned Xue Ziye to be extra cautious with him after he left.

Xue Ziye returned to the medicine house, only to find that Tong had injured his meridians and broken her seal. He brandished a sword, demanding the Dragon Blood Pearl from Xue Ziye, even pressing the blade to her neck. Yet Xue Ziye was unafraid and even offered to help him strike, because she knew Tong would never kill her. Having lived to this point, Xue Ziye feared nothing but hoped that Tong would not continue living in darkness.

Furious, Tong slashed at her with his sword and took the Dragon Blood Pearl before leaving. Before departing, he went to the ice. Xue Huai had no idea what he had endured all these years, yet Xue Huai could rest peacefully here! The Mingjie from Mo Family Village was already dead. From now on, these memories had nothing to do with him.

Huo Zhanbai discovered that Tong had left the valley in the middle of the night and hurried to check on Xue Ziye. She had fainted on the ground, blood still flowing from her neck. Tong handed the Dragon Blood Pearl to Miao Huo, telling him to find Miao Shui to discuss their plan. If the wound had been any deeper, Xue Ziye’s life would have been in danger. Huo Zhanbai was furious and blamed her for hiding things from him.

Even though Tong had regained all his memories, he still chose to leave, which meant those memories no longer mattered to Xue Ziye. Yet she remained stubbornly determined. At least Tong hadn’t killed her, which meant he still had a shred of conscience left. This was the path Tong had chosen for himself, and no one could stop him.

Xue Ziye said that she hadn’t kept things from Huo Zhanbai just because she feared he would kill Tong, but there was another reason she couldn’t reveal. Now, the Dragon Blood Pearl was gone, and she had failed Huo Zhanbai’s trust. Huo Zhanbai accompanied Xue Ziye to the cold spring, where they saw a large crack on the ice caused by Tong.

Xue Ziye was momentarily lost in thought, and Huo Zhanbai held an umbrella over her to shield her from the snow. After a long time, Xue Ziye finally snapped back to reality. Her body was frozen stiff, and seeing this, Huo Zhanbai picked her up and carried her away. Xue Ziye felt even more guilty. If he knew that the prescription from eight years ago had been useless, would he still treat her this well?

The next day, Mo’er’s medicine would be ready, and the day after, Huo Zhanbai could leave. As Xue Ziye turned to leave, she told him to rest well and recover. Huo Zhanbai's eyes were filled with lingering affection. Suddenly, he heard Xue Ziye call his name from behind and quickly rushed to her. She had once said that after Huo Zhanbai retrieved the Dragon Blood Pearl, she would tell him what she wanted.

Now, she said she wanted to see the aurora and hoped Huo Zhanbai would accompany her. Huo Zhanbai eagerly agreed, promising he would take her to see it. The next day, the two of them went up the mountain together to see the aurora. Xue Ziye smiled as she followed in Huo Zhanbai’s footsteps. Since Xue Ziye’s condition made it difficult for her to travel long distances, Huo Zhanbai scouted out the shortest path.

When they reached the summit, he built a fire, and the two sat together watching the stars. Though the weather was poor, and they couldn’t see the aurora, the starry sky was still breathtakingly beautiful. Huo Zhanbai had prepared wine and reminisced about the past eight years. He remembered every moment spent with Xue Ziye and the taste of every cup of wine. Xue Ziye looked a little drunk.

Although they hadn’t seen the aurora this time, there was still a long future ahead. Huo Zhanbai promised that even if he had to cross mountains and rivers, he would return to watch the aurora with her. As they were about to leave, Xue Ziye’s body started to weaken again, so Huo Zhanbai carried her down the mountain. The next day, Huo Zhanbai prepared to leave. After eight years, Xue Ziye finally decided to tell him the truth.

But before she could speak, Huo Zhanbai thanked her for doing everything she could to keep Mo'er alive over the past eight years. He had always known in his heart. Before leaving, Huo Zhanbai said that once Mo'er recovered, he would return to Apothecary Valley to help with chores, as he had grown accustomed to drinking Laughing Red Dust. Xue Ziye, however, declined. Having drunk Laughing Red Dust for so long, it was time for him to try something new.

Before mounting his horse, Huo Zhanbai asked Xue Ziye to buy a jar of Laughing Red Dust wine under the plum tree and wait for his return so they could drink it together. Hearing this, Xue Ziye was already in tears, as she knew what Huo Zhanbai wanted to find out and what he would face.

Zhang Wujue had suffered severe injuries due to losing control of his internal energy, so he sent Miao Feng to invite the renowned doctor Xue Ziye from Apothecary Valley to treat him. Miao Shui noticed that Miao Feng was leaving at dawn and knew that something serious had indeed happened to Zhang Wujue. Tong returned to Yuan Yi Palace and stood before Zhang Wujue.

Zhang Wujue checked once more to see if the golden needle on Tong’s head was still in place. Tong was extremely nervous—Zhang Wujue’s power was truly unfathomable. Zhang Wujue had lost much of his vital energy at that moment, but to avoid arousing Tong’s suspicion, he summoned him personally, which successfully intimidated Tong into not making a move. Tong planned to select a few trusted subordinates from the Asura Arena to deal with Miao Feng.

The time was not yet right, and he couldn’t kill Zhang Wujue yet. Miao Feng had been waiting for Xue Ziye by the chessboard for a long time. When Xue Ziye saw him, she thought he looked very meticulous. Miao Feng told her that he had come to bid farewell.

Xue Ziye didn’t press him for details but instead insisted on finishing their final game of chess, saying that just as a game of chess has an end, people too will inevitably part. The game was decided, and Xue Ziye stood up to leave. Miao Feng seemed reluctant, hoping that they could still play chess together like this in the future.

Huo Zhanbai headed south to Yangzhou, and Xue Ziye went to the valley entrance every day to look, hoping for his return. Huo Zhanbai arrived at the residence of Master Liao and presented Xue Ziye’s letter. Master Liao, upon learning that Xue Ziye’s cold illness had worsened, felt deep sympathy for her hardship. The hairpin Huo Zhanbai brought was a keepsake that Master Liao had given Xue Ziye before leaving.

Master Liao had thought Xue Ziye’s medical skills were unmatched in the world and was surprised that Xue Ziye still sought her out. After listening to Huo Zhanbai’s story, Master Liao quickly understood that Xue Ziye’s prescription had saved the lives of three people. Huo Zhanbai had initially believed that the prescription had only a slight effect on Mo'er, but Master Liao revealed that the prescription was entirely useless.

Huo Zhanbai was momentarily devastated—how could something he had devoted eight years to be useless? Master Liao explained that she would separate the four ingredients of the prescription to prolong Mo’er’s life. Yet Huo Zhanbai still struggled to accept this. When he opened the medicine box, he found that none of the ingredients had ever been used, and the Dragon Blood Pearl was also missing.

Master Liao would take responsibility for Mo’er’s condition and hoped that Huo Zhanbai would carefully reflect on the matter. The more Huo Zhanbai thought about the past eight years, the more it pained him. In truth, he had already had vague suspicions, but he didn’t blame Xue Ziye. She had hidden the truth from him because she was afraid he would lose hope.

Huo Zhanbai had been trying to persuade Xue Ziye to let go, yet he couldn’t understand that reasoning himself. At this moment, he felt even more heartache for Xue Ziye, knowing she had borne so much alone. Master Liao began packing her belongings, and her husband had also returned. To Huo Zhanbai's surprise, her husband was none other than his long-lost fifth brother.

Shuang Hong hurriedly came to report that someone was waiting at the valley entrance to see Xue Ziye and had brought nine "Huitian Tokens. " When Xue Ziye arrived at the valley entrance, she was shocked to see that the visitor was her chess companion, and he was from Yuan Yi Palace! Miao Feng had come to request that Xue Ziye visit Yuan Yi Palace to provide medical treatment.

He even offered ten times the normal consultation fee and promised to help cure Xue Ziye’s cold illness. Miao Feng's "Miao Chunfeng" technique was precisely suited to dispel Xue Ziye's cold condition. However, Xue Ziye refused. Miao Feng then drew his sword and stabbed himself in the abdomen, threatening to commit suicide on the spot. Seeing this, Xue Ziye had no choice but to take him into the valley.

He was truly insane, it seemed, and Zhang Wujue's orders were something none of his subordinates could disobey, even at the cost of their lives.

Master Liao was preparing to visit Mo'er’s condition with Huo Zhanbai, and she found it hard to part from her fifth brother, which made Huo Zhanbai envious. Xue Ziye brought Miao Feng into the valley for treatment. Shuang Hong was worried that she might go to Yuan Yi Palace to save someone, but Xue Ziye denied it. However, her explanation could fool Shuang Hong, but not Granny Ning.

It turned out that Xue Ziye had long made up her mind—once Miao Feng woke up, she would follow him to Yuan Yi Palace. She was determined to go to Yuan Yi Palace, no matter what. Granny Ning was deeply concerned. The Laughing Red Dust under the plum tree was almost ready, and if Huo Zhanbai returned, could Xue Ziye really bear to watch him drink alone? Xue Ziye, however, had made up her mind.

She too wished to drink with Huo Zhanbai, but going to Yuan Yi Palace was something she couldn’t avoid. Xue Ziye asked Granny Ning and Shuang Hong to keep her secret, saying that she had gone to treat someone at the Dingjian Pavilion. Miao Feng’s injury healed quickly, and Xue Ziye knew that when he inflicted the wound on himself, he had intentionally avoided any vital organs.

Miao Feng pleaded with Xue Ziye to go to Yuan Yi Palace as soon as possible to provide treatment. Xue Ziye couldn’t understand his deep loyalty to Zhang Wujue. Despite being poisoned since childhood, Miao Feng still sought to save Zhang Wujue’s life—this was something Xue Ziye couldn’t comprehend. It turned out that Miao Feng was from the Silkworm Clan, and Zhang Wujue had saved him when he was in danger, so Miao Feng regarded Zhang Wujue as his savior.

Xue Ziye decided that the next day, she would go to Yuan Yi Palace with Miao Feng. On the way, Master Liao and Huo Zhanbai talked about Xue Ziye. Master Liao joked that Weifeng had lost a drinking contest to her, and if Huo Zhanbai drank with Xue Ziye, he might share the same fate. Huo Zhanbai laughed and said that it wouldn’t be so bad since he had already given himself to Xue Ziye long ago.

Huo Zhanbai wrote a letter and sent it to Xue Ziye through Xue Yao. Meanwhile, everyone in the valley had learned that Xue Ziye was planning to leave and were worried. They rushed to ask her to stay or offered to go with her, but Xue Ziye refused them all. Before leaving, Xue Ziye visited Xue Huai, who would never wake up again. Master Liao was right—Xue Ziye should not keep Xue Huai here any longer.

It was time to send him home. Xue Ziye asked Miao Feng to help her remove Xue Huai from the ice tomorrow, and they would set off together. The others prepared many things for Xue Ziye, including five hand warmers. Xue Ziye asked Shuang Hong to prepare a coffin to send Xue Huai home. Before leaving, Xue Ziye urged everyone to work hard and improve their medical skills, as she would be checking on them when she returned.

The group chattered away, but only Shuang Hong and Granny Ning were quietly saddened by Xue Ziye's departure. The next day, Xue Ziye deceived everyone. She quietly packed her belongings and left early to reunite with Xue Huai. She said, "If there’s no farewell, then we’ll surely meet again. " Meanwhile, Huo Zhanbai and Master Liao arrived at Qiu Shuiyin and Mo’er’s residence, only to find a coffin in the hall. Mo’er had already passed away.

Huo Zhanbai’s years of hard work were in vain, and his heart ached. After all the effort to bring the medicine back, how could Mo’er not hold on a little longer? Qiu Shuiyin’s face was pale. Heaven had taken away everyone she loved, leaving her all alone. In her grief, she fainted. After eight years of searching for a cure, Huo Zhanbai had done everything he could, but Mo’er’s illness had been beyond saving.

Now, he could only hope to find Xu Chonghua in the afterlife and seek his forgiveness. The last time they met, Huo Zhanbai had promised to teach Mo'er swordsmanship. In the rain that day, he performed a sword dance, offering it as his final lesson to Mo'er.

Xue Ziye chose a place and had Miao Feng help her bury Xue Huai there. Huo Zhanbai also set up a memorial tomb for Mo'er, burning the toys that Mo'er had loved. Suddenly, Qiu Shuiyin rushed out to reclaim the toys, followed by uncontrollable sobbing. Not far away, Xu Chonghua witnessed the scene, and his hatred for Huo Zhanbai deepened. After all these years of vying for the sect leader position with Huo Zhanbai, what had he gained?

Now, his family was destroyed, and he had lost everything. On the way to Yaoshi Valley, Xue Ziye stayed warm inside the carriage while Miao Feng played a tune on his flute. Xue Ziye found it pleasant to hear and lifted the curtain to ask if he only knew that one song. It turned out that Miao Feng wasn’t playing a flute but a *bili*, a traditional instrument from his homeland.

The person who gave it to him had only taught him this single melody. Along the way, they stopped at an inn and encountered an elderly man gravely injured. Xue Ziye hurried to save him, while Miao Feng, as usual, remained indifferent. It wasn’t until Xue Ziye spoke that he carried the old man into the inn for treatment. Xue Ziye used her acupuncture techniques and, with Miao Feng’s internal energy, saved the elderly man.

When the man awoke, he thanked them both profusely, and even Miao Feng showed a rare change in his usual cold demeanor. Xue Ziye noticed that Miao Feng always remained calm and unperturbed, no matter the situation. She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of place Yuan Yi Palace must be to produce people with such inhuman traits. Huo Zhanbai received news from his senior brother about the rebellion at Yuan Yi Palace.

To crush the palace, the combined strength of the Seven Swords was needed. Huo Zhanbai hoped that Master Liao would agree, but Master Liao said it all depended on Weifeng’s decision—if he agreed, so would Master Liao. Suddenly, Qiu Shuiyin attempted suicide by poison, but fortunately, Master Liao was able to save her. However, Qiu Shuiyin showed no will to live and even blamed Master Liao for saving her.

It was now necessary to have someone take turns caring for her, and Huo Zhanbai decided to stay and look after her for a while. When Qiu Shuiyin woke up, she refused to see anyone. Master Liao asked Huo Zhanbai if he would return to Xue Ziye once all these matters were resolved, to which Huo Zhanbai assured him that he would keep his promise.

As for Xue Ziye’s cold ailment, Master Liao said it would require many years of quiet recuperation. Huo Zhanbai felt relieved—if she could be cured, then perhaps in the future, he could accompany Xue Ziye to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the world. Xue Ziye and Miao Feng continued their journey, but along the way, Miao Feng noticed that Xue Ziye had fainted.

He quickly tended to her, feeling guilty because, ultimately, it was his fault that Xue Ziye was suffering from the cold ailment. When Xue Ziye awoke, she immediately knew that Miao Feng’s Ice Silkworm poison was acting up, and she hurried to give him a pill. However, Miao Feng stubbornly refused to take it, saying that the Ice Silkworm poison was a mark given to him by Zhang Wujue and was the highest honor.

When their carriage was destroyed, Miao Feng took Xue Ziye on horseback, doing his best to prevent her cold ailment from flaring up. When Xue Yao arrived at Yaoshi Valley with a letter, Granny Ning and Shuang Hong realized that Huo Zhanbai did not blame Xue Ziye. However, Xue Ziye was no longer in the valley. Meanwhile, Tong ordered his men to kill Miao Feng but ensured they did not harm Xue Ziye.

As Miao Feng and Xue Ziye traveled, they were suddenly ambushed by a group of assassins, the Eight Stallions of the Asura Arena. Miao Feng immediately knew they had been sent by Tong, and Xue Ziye was shocked upon hearing this. Miao Feng was struck by a poison-tipped arrow, but he stayed behind to hold off the attackers, urging Xue Ziye to run ahead.

Miao Feng unleashed his ultimate technique, killing all eight of the Stallions, though at some point, his *bili* had fallen without him noticing. As Xue Ziye fled, one of the assassins who had faked death pursued her, intent on killing her. Miao Feng rushed over to treat Xue Ziye, even risking exposing his weak energy to the assassin. Fortunately, Xue Ziye had a secret weapon from the Tang Sect, which saved both of them.

Miao Feng spat out a mouthful of blood—his injuries were severe, and Xue Ziye, disregarding everything else, began treating him with acupuncture in the snow. Xue Ziye carefully picked up the *bili* that Miao Feng had dropped. Since he had mentioned it was a gift from a family member, she knew he cherished it deeply. However, Xue Ziye soon lost consciousness from exhaustion.

Miao Feng, feeling an unfamiliar emotion surge within him, shed large tears—something he hadn’t experienced since practicing *Muchunfeng*. What was happening to him?

Miao Feng suddenly felt a different kind of emotion, one he hadn’t experienced since practicing Mu Chun Feng. Xue Ziye, weak and unconscious, was swaying as she tried to stand, leaving Miao Feng bewildered. Could it be, as Miao Shui had said, that he was starting to regret his choices?

Huo Zhanbai wrote to his senior brothers, advising them to stay vigilant, and also discovered that the cabin they had once used to rescue the children was, in fact, a hidden post for Yuan Yi Palace, a location that needed to be completely eradicated. After managing these affairs, he prepared medicine for Qiu Shuiyin, but she remained despondent, haunted by her memories.

The Valley Master Liao Qingran sympathized, knowing that the pain of losing a child could never truly be alleviated, not even in a lifetime. The Valley Master prepared some treats that Mo’er liked, seeing them only brought more tears to Qiu Shuiyin’s eyes. She grieved over Mo’er’s lack of playmates, his inability to enjoy a normal childhood, and a life that was tragically cut short.

The Valley Master encouraged her to share her pain, knowing it would ease her heart, reminding her that mother and child are inseparable. Mo’er would never blame her but instead feel hurt by her despair. After this conversation, Qiu Shuiyin began to regain some color in her cheeks and was even willing to eat. Seeing this, Huo Zhanbai finally felt a bit relieved.

Meanwhile, Xue Ziye awoke in an unfamiliar place and heard the tune of Miao Feng’s bili flute drifting from the courtyard—a tune evoking nostalgia for his homeland. Miao Feng mentioned a scratch on his flute, explaining that back then, he was called Yami. He and his sister had learned the song during their escape, but marauders massacred everyone around them, his sister was taken captive, and Miao Feng was left behind.

Xue Ziye noticed that something seemed off about him, realizing that he couldn’t manage his own internal energy, so she hurried to retrieve medicine for him. Miao Feng warned her that she might regret helping him later, but for her, being a healer meant that any regret was a matter for the future. Meanwhile, Tong, along with Miao Huo and Miao Shui, decided to kill Zhang Wujue while Miao Feng was absent.

They had prepared the Dragon Blood Pearl, planning to make Zhang Wujue’s death occur the next day. However, Miao Shui discovered Zhang Wujue’s secret just as it was too late to stop Tong. Tong attacked Zhang Wujue in the main hall, while Miao Huo wreaked havoc outside. Miao Shui unexpectedly turned on Miao Huo, seeking his death to clear her own path. She personally killed Miao Huo.

Inside, Tong’s duel with Zhang Wujue was evenly matched until Tong managed to control him using Tong Shu techniques and then struck him down with the Dragon Blood Pearl. However, the “Zhang Wujue” before him was merely an imposter; he had broken free of Tong’s techniques, while the real Zhang Wujue appeared shortly after. With Miao Shui’s betrayal, Tong was pushed to the brink.

Tong, now poisoned by Shi Hun San, wished for death, but Zhang Wujue spared him, realizing that Tong had regained his memory. He revealed that, in truth, Xue Ziye had never abandoned Tong. They had tried to rescue him, only to be chased by Miao Feng. Tong’s blind eyes shed tears of blood as he laughed bitterly at his fate. Rather than kill him, Zhang Wujue imprisoned him with a fierce mastiff, making him live as his hound.

Later, Miao Shui visited Tong, knowing full well that Zhang Wujue’s earlier appearance had been a ruse but that she was powerless to stop him. Miao Shui wished to learn the secret path to the Armory Pavilion, but Tong refused to disclose it. Huo Zhanbai received responses from his senior brothers, yet no word came from Wei Fengxing. Qiu Shuiyin, aware of Huo Zhanbai’s plan, encouraged him to pursue it without concern for her.

She said that he had done more than enough to protect Mo’er over the years. He harbored feelings for Xue Ziye and deserved a chance to live for himself. Xue Ziye was a good person, and the two of them were well-matched.

The Valley Master knew that Wei Fengxing was likely hesitant due to his own concerns and encouraged Huo Zhanbai to visit him in person. Now that Qiu Shuiyin had largely recovered, the Valley Master planned to depart after she fully regained her health. When Huo Zhanbai mentioned Xue Ziye, he suddenly recalled that the messenger Snow Hawk hadn’t returned, and he found himself longing to see Xue Ziye once more.

He spurred his horse back to Dingjian Pavilion, where the Pavilion Master praised him. Now was the opportune time to gather the Seven Swords and strike at Dingjian Pavilion. The Pavilion Master had information about Tong’s failed rebellion and a map of Yuan Yi Palace’s layout. As for the source of this intelligence, the Pavilion Master simply told them that all would be revealed upon arrival.

Huo Zhanbai had just three days to assemble the Seven Swords and decided to first head to Yangzhou. Snow Hawk arrived after his departure, bringing news that Xue Ziye had gone to Yuan Yi Palace, causing the Valley Master concern that she might be in danger, knowing that this was practically a death sentence.

Miao Feng led Xue Ziye to Kunlun, where his wounds had grown severe, yet he refused her treatment, insisting that she save her strength for Zhang Wujue’s recovery. He killed the driver they had just hired, then carried Xue Ziye into the entrance to Yuan Yi Palace. Xue Ziye, deeply grieved, was too late to stop him.

She felt heartbroken, knowing that saving a life took such painstaking effort, yet he could so easily end the life of a mere driver. Upon their return to Yuan Yi Palace, they learned of Tong’s failed rebellion and ran into Miao Huo. Noticing that Miao Feng’s smile had vanished, Miao Huo was puzzled, and Xue Ziye, with a cold expression, demanded to see Zhang Wujue.

Zhang Wujue summoned both Miao Feng and Xue Ziye, with Tong, chained beside him, accompanied by a fierce mastiff. The sight startled Xue Ziye, who looked on as Zhang Wujue ordered her to examine Tong to see if he was salvageable. As she approached, Tong warned her not to save him, calling himself a monster, just before Miao Feng struck him. In front of Xue Ziye, Zhang Wujue beat Tong further, and though she appeared calm, her fists clenched tightly.

Satisfied that she had no strong reaction to Tong, Zhang Wujue felt more at ease. He informed her that Tong would succumb to Shi Hun San in seven days, and when he was fully healed, he would kill her, reuniting the siblings in death. Miao Feng pleaded for Xue Ziye’s life, angering Zhang Wujue, who beat him as well. Bound by his injuries, Miao Feng didn’t dare retaliate.

Zhang Wujue feigned agreement to spare Xue Ziye’s life, concealing his true, ruthless intentions. Huo Zhanbai arrived in Yangzhou, seeking out Wei Fengxing with a hint of resentment. Wei Fengxing refused to join him, wanting only a peaceful life with the Valley Master and their child. Huo Zhanbai, however, insisted that family harmony could only be achieved after fulfilling their greater duty. Eventually, Wei Fengxing was persuaded to join the assault on Yuan Yi Palace.

The Seven Swords gathered, ready to sacrifice everything for the safety of the people. Xue Ziye planned to locate Tong’s whereabouts before acting further. One night, she attempted to sneak out, only to be stopped by Zhang Wujue’s orders confining her to the courtyard. Miao Shui offered to accompany her, enabling her departure, and pulled Xue Ziye aside to examine her palm.

Annoyed, Xue Ziye said she wished to rest, but Miao Shui brought up the massacre of Mo Family Village, an order once given by Zhang Wujue. She wasn’t concerned about Xue Ziye reporting her since she knew Xue Ziye was determined to find Tong. Miao Shui also revealed that Miao Feng, who now protected Xue Ziye at all costs, had once relentlessly hunted down both Xue Ziye and Xue Huai, a fact that Xue Ziye found bitterly ironic. Now, faced with the truth, Xue Ziye was unsure how to view Miao Feng.

When Xue Ziye discovered the truth about Xue Huai’s death, she ran to confront Miao Feng, heartbroken. He had known all along what he had done to them, yet he kept silent. To obtain the power of the Tong Technique, he had deliberately lured Qiu Shuihe into the plot, burned down the village, and left unscathed. If it hadn’t been for Xue Huai blocking the dart for her back then, she would have been the one buried.

Xue Ziye questioned Miao Feng, asking if it was really under Zhang Wujue’s orders. She then noticed the wound on his arm, but regardless, Miao Feng continued to defend Zhang Wujue. Xue Ziye helped bandage Miao Feng’s wound, and he promised her that as long as she healed Zhang Wujue, she would remain safe.

As the Seven Swords gathered to attack Yuan Yi Palace, they found members of the Eight Stallions of Yuan Yi Palace slain by Miao Feng along the way. Judging by their position, it looked like an intricate needle technique, signaling they had to reach Yuan Yi Palace quickly to prevent any mishaps. Miao Shui went to talk to Tong and deceived him by saying Xue Ziye had been killed, causing Tong to erupt in fury.

Miao Shui also wanted to kill Zhang Wujue and hoped Tong would reveal the location of the Armory Pavilion, to which Tong agreed, but only if she promised to protect his sister, Xue Ziye. Miao Feng had broken the Mu Chun Feng Technique and only retained seventy to eighty percent of his power, making Miao Huo confident he could succeed. Miao Huo went to see Xue Ziye, intending to take her somewhere.

When she noticed Tong’s sword in Miao Huo’s hand, Xue Ziye agreed to go with her immediately. Following Miao Huo, she accidentally spotted a wolfhound wearing the peace lock she had once given Huo Zhanbai for the young Chu’er. Realizing that Zhang Wujue had gathered infants to advance his martial arts, and that the child was now dead, she felt an intense unrest. Arriving at Tong’s confinement area, Xue Ziye was heartbroken to see him in such a pitiful state.

Tong, unwilling to see her, didn’t understand what Miao Shui’s true intentions were, nor why she had brought Xue Ziye there! Miao Shui urged them to bid farewell properly, but in his miserable condition, Tong didn’t want her to see him this way; Mingjie was already dead! Xue Ziye tried to calm him, but as Tong had been poisoned by Soul-Eater Powder, he was doomed to die.

Realizing that Xue Ziye and Xue Huai hadn’t abandoned him, Tong didn’t want to involve Xue Ziye. He begged her to leave the mountain and stop worrying about him! Xue Ziye insisted she would step out briefly. Tong repeatedly pleaded with her not to leave, but she resolutely walked away. Xue Ziye approached Miao Huo, requesting the key as she planned to kill Zhang Wujue herself.

She didn’t want Tong to remain bound like a dog, and she promised that if she had the key, she would cooperate with Miao Huo. With the key in hand, Xue Ziye returned to Tong’s side, treating his injuries and performing acupuncture. Before long, she coughed up blood herself but reassured Tong. The poison had been extracted, and by tomorrow, Tong’s vision would be fully restored.

It wasn’t true that Soul-Eater Powder had no cure; she had used her own body as a conduit to draw out the poison, thus breaking its hold. Tong worried for her wellbeing, but Xue Ziye assured him her cold ailment prevented the poison from fully invading her body. She told Tong to leave when his eyesight returned; after eight hours, he’d regain control of his acupoints. Tong, unable to move, pleaded with tears for her not to go.

But to Xue Ziye, Tong was her only remaining family in the world, and she refused to let him be destroyed in this way. To her, he would always be her younger brother, Mingjie, never changing. Xue Ziye gave him medicine and left after he fell asleep. Miao Shui, upset she had taken too long, discussed with her their plan for tomorrow.

Once Zhang Wujue received his treatment the next day, he would be fully restored, but he debated whether to keep Miao Shui around. During the treatment, Miao Feng had to stay by his side without straying. The schemes within Yuan Yi Palace continued, and Xu Chonghua decided to make his move. Miao Shui was delighted, feeling she had found herself a strong ally.

After Xue Ziye left, Miao Shui released the wolfhound from its cage to devour Tong, but unexpectedly, Xue Ziye had already set up protection for him. Meanwhile, Huo Zhanbai and his companions rested at an inn, and that night, he pondered whether Xue Ziye was already waiting for him beneath the plum tree.

Huo Zhanbai couldn’t stop thinking about his promise to Xue Ziye. Wei Fengxing, seeing that he had found his place, suggested they both return to Guazhou and live as neighbors. While the idea sounded peaceful, Huo Zhanbai was uncertain if Xue Ziye would want that. He wanted to return to Yaoshi Valley and accompany Xue Ziye in doing whatever she wished to pursue. At this time, Xue Ziye was in Yuan Yi Palace.

Having already pushed her limits to expel the Soul-Eater Powder from Tong, the poison had infiltrated her organs. She began to miss Huo Zhanbai deeply, almost hearing his voice urging her to bury a jar of Laughing Dust under the plum tree and wait for him to return so they could drink it together. Huo Zhanbai would keep their appointment, but Xue Ziye felt she would have to break it.

Xue Ziye sat alone until dawn, took an antidote, and, despite her weakened state, prepared to go treat Zhang Wujue with Miao Feng. Miao Feng even inspected Xue Ziye’s medicine chest before leading her to Zhang Wujue. Zhang Wujue ordered Miao Shui to remain on guard as Miao Feng brought Xue Ziye in for treatment. Xue Ziye checked Zhang Wujue’s pulse, but he grew furious, grabbing her by the throat until she assured him she could heal him.

She had him drink her medicine and wait for a quarter of an hour before beginning the treatment. She also instructed him to light calming incense to relieve the pain. When Xue Ziye saw the scars covering Zhang Wujue’s back, she paused momentarily, but quickly resumed her acupuncture work. Outside the hall, Xu Chonghua drove away the guards while Miao Shui grew restless inside.

At the critical moment, Xue Ziye made her move, but she didn’t expect Zhang Wujue to still have the strength to fight back. Despite Miao Feng’s protection, she was harshly thrown to the ground. At this point, Miao Shui delivered the final blow to Zhang Wujue, killing the man she loathed, who deserved to die for his countless crimes. Had Zhang Wujue forgotten the massacre of the Sang Nation twenty-one years ago?

Miao Shui was, in fact, the princess of Sang, and the sister Miao Feng had been searching for all along. She had witnessed the slaughter of her people, hid her identity, and was even bought by Zhang Wujue. Now, she had finally avenged her people. The truth left Miao Feng stunned, and though he begged Miao Shui to spare him, she refused, intending to eliminate every threat.

Xue Ziye, coughing up blood, pleaded with Miao Shui to spare Miao Feng, but Miao Shui remained adamant in her resolve. Miao Feng looked to Miao Shui, begging that if he died, she would at least spare Xue Ziye. Miao Shui found it amusing that there was another person besides Zhang Wujue for whom Miao Feng would care so deeply. As Miao Shui prepared to strike, Xue Ziye called out the name Yami, triggering Miao Shui’s memories.

While she initially denied it, she searched for proof, realizing that it was indeed him. However, Miao Feng, who had aided Zhang Wujue’s tyranny, had turned a blind eye to her suffering, so there was no reason to reconcile now. Just then, Zhang Wujue, not yet dead, with a face that had aged overnight, lunged at Miao Shui with a final attack. Miao Feng shielded her from the blow.

To prevent Zhang Wujue from harming Miao Feng again, Miao Shui sacrificed herself to kill Zhang Wujue completely, but was thrown out of the hall in the process, dying on the spot. Severely injured, Xue Ziye had diverted the Soul-Eater Powder to herself, enduring immense pain and shedding tears. Miao Feng, noticing this, was stunned to find his Mu Chun Feng technique had been restored.

Xue Ziye, barely conscious, murmured about Yaoshi Valley, prompting Miao Feng to hurry to bring her back. Xu Chonghua, seeing this, did not intervene. Later, Xu Chonghua approached Tong with a proposal. He informed him that Zhang Wujue was dead and offered to help Tong ascend to the position of Pavilion Master, on the condition that Tong assists in eliminating the Seven Swords of the Dingjian Pavilion.

Once accomplished, they would divide control of the martial world, with Xu Chonghua claiming the position of Pavilion Master of Dingjian Pavilion.

The Seven Swords of Dingjian Pavilion encountered Miao Feng head-on. Although Miao Feng’s Miao Chun Feng technique had been fully restored, Huo Zhanbai, who was already injured, found it difficult to resist. However, Miao Feng was in a hurry to save someone and didn’t want to engage them in a fight. Huo Zhanbai didn’t realize that she was, in fact, his beloved Xue Ziye and prepared to let him go.

Xue Ziye tried to utter a faint sound, but Huo Zhanbai didn’t hear it, and she fainted once more. The Seven Swords continued their journey, and Huo Zhanbai unknowingly passed by Xue Ziye’s fallen wooden hairpin, ultimately missing her. The Seven Swords arrived at the entrance of Yuan Yi Palace, but the path ended there. Huo Zhanbai leaped forward and managed to find the way in.

The group gathered and entered Yuan Yi Palace, which was eerily quiet, even unsettlingly so. Inside the main hall of Yuan Yi Palace, a figure suddenly appeared. Though masked, Huo Zhanbai sensed his identity—it was Xu Chonghua! The group was stunned, and Huo Zhanbai rushed to him, relieved that he was alive. Xu Chonghua explained that he had faked his death and intentionally fallen from a cliff.

Although Huo Zhanbai had faced much criticism because of it, he didn’t care as long as Xu Chonghua was alive. Xu Chonghua informed them that chaos had erupted within Yuan Yi Palace: Zhang Wujue and Miao Shui had perished together, and Tong had been gravely injured and was now imprisoned. Huo Zhanbai noticed golden needles on Zhang Wujue’s corpse and tried to inspect them, but Xu Chonghua stopped him.

The group of eight split up to rescue those trapped within Yuan Yi Palace. Huo Zhanbai and Xu Chonghua headed to the Snow Prison. When they arrived, Huo Zhanbai was surprised to find that Tong, supposedly injured, was unharmed. However, Tong wasn’t planning to attack Huo Zhanbai; he said it was an issue for Dingjian Pavilion to resolve on its own.

Xu Chonghua then took Wei Fengxing hostage, declaring his desire for martial supremacy and the position of Pavilion Master of Dingjian Pavilion! Huo Zhanbai suddenly realized that Xu Chonghua had changed, and he was at a loss for words. Xu Chonghua harbored intense resentment, feeling that despite all he had done, Huo Zhanbai still remained the best candidate for Pavilion Master.

Years of effort now felt wasted to Xu Chonghua, and Huo Zhanbai, feeling bitter, insisted he had never wanted to compete with Xu Chonghua for the position. But Xu Chonghua was beyond reasoning; there was no turning back for him now. Xu Chonghua used Wei Fengxing to force Huo Zhanbai to discard his sword. After a long struggle, Huo Zhanbai reluctantly complied.

Xu Chonghua then ordered Tong to use his powers on Huo Zhanbai to make him feel the agony of losing a loved one. Unexpectedly, Tong betrayed Xu Chonghua, and Huo Zhanbai ended up killing Tong to protect Wei Fengxing. Xu Chonghua was left confused, unable to understand why Tong hadn’t helped him. Tong offered no answer, only remarking that even someone like him didn’t deserve such an ally. In the end, Xu Chonghua was truly dead.

He repeated the exact same words as before, asking Huo Zhanbai to take care of Qiu Shuiyin. Tong urged them to leave quickly, but Huo Zhanbai and the others wanted to rescue the children held there. Huo Zhanbai asked Tong why he had helped him. Tong replied that since Xue Ziye cared about him, he would never harm him.

It was only then that Huo Zhanbai realized Xue Ziye had been to Yuan Yi Palace and had gone through such peril! Anxious, Huo Zhanbai rode swiftly toward Yaoshi Valley. On the way, Miao Feng, rushing back to Yaoshi Valley with Xue Ziye, accidentally overturned his horse. He repeatedly used his Miao Chun Feng technique to heal Xue Ziye until she finally regained consciousness.

She murmured Huo Zhanbai’s name, reaching out to touch a distant light, though she lacked the strength to do so. Miao Feng, realizing that Xue Ziye’s time was short, cried out in anguish but was determined to bring her back to Yaoshi Valley, vowing to save her. Along the way, Miao Feng stopped at a tavern and met Master Liao. After examining Xue Ziye, Master Liao regretfully informed him that she had already passed away two hours earlier.

Xue Ziye’s hair veiled her face, so Master Liao hadn’t recognized her as his disciple. Using golden needles, Xue Ziye had sealed her acupoints, unwilling to succumb to the final effects of the Soul-Eater Powder. Master Liao lamented that she must have been a woman of great pride. Only after brushing aside her hair did he realize that this proud woman was his disciple.

Placing Xue Ziye’s body into a coffin, Master Liao, heartbroken, scolded her for constantly trying to save others without caring for her own health. She was barely in her twenties—how could fate be so cruel? Huo Zhanbai finally arrived at Yaoshi Valley and anxiously asked if Xue Ziye had returned, only to find Master Liao and Miao Feng waiting there.

Huo Zhanbai rushed to Yaoshi Valley, only to find Master Liao and Miao Feng there, both looking sorrowful. Sensing something was wrong, he questioned everyone, one by one, asking where Xue Ziye was. Finally, Granny Ning spoke up, telling him that Xue Ziye was gone. Her tombstone stood there, and Huo Zhanbai’s eyes reddened with grief. He couldn’t accept it, remembering the moment he passed by Miao Feng, realizing too late.

Overwhelmed with anguish, he collapsed in front of her grave. When Huo Zhanbai regained consciousness, nothing had changed—Xue Ziye had indeed become only a tombstone. Master Liao explained the cause of her death; she had sealed her own throat with golden needles, ending her life. Until the end, she kept calling to return to Yaoshi Valley.

She likely wished to see Huo Zhanbai one last time, but must have reached her limit, leaving her with no choice but to end her own suffering. Huo Zhanbai only asked if she had gone peacefully. Master Liao replied that she had—she looked as she had wished. Huo Zhanbai was filled with remorse, wondering why he had been only a day too late; why couldn’t she have waited for him? Huo Zhanbai knelt by Xue Ziye’s grave until dusk.

Granny Ning brought him a letter, one that Xue Ziye had missed, just as they had ultimately missed each other. Shuang Hong and the others wept at the sight, thinking that if Xue Ziye were still here, they would all surely be gathered beneath the plum trees together. After taking care of these matters, Huo Zhanbai returned to Dingjian Pavilion.

The Pavilion Master regretted his decision to have Xu Chonghua infiltrate Yuan Yi Palace; otherwise, they would still have been brothers fighting side by side. In regret, the Pavilion Master decided to step down and offered Huo Zhanbai the position of Pavilion Master. However, Huo Zhanbai’s heart was not in it. After eight years, he had come to see the world differently, and seeing his resolve, the Pavilion Master no longer insisted.

He reassured Huo Zhanbai that whatever he chose to do in the future, as long as it was his true desire, it would bring him comfort. Miao Feng became the new Master of Yaoshi Valley and abolished the Hui Tian Order. The valley was busier than ever with a steady flow of patients. Huo Zhanbai returned to Yaoshi Valley to pay his respects to Xue Ziye, and the two shared a symbolic drink.

Huo Zhanbai asked Miao Feng why he had chosen to study medicine, to which Miao Feng replied that it was to repay Xue Ziye’s kindness. In fact, Xue Ziye’s greatest wish had been to rescue her younger brother from a life of darkness. Just then, Tong arrived, dressed differently from his usual attire; today, he had come only to visit his elder sister, Xiao Ye.

The three drank together, and Tong could see that Xue Ziye had loved Huo Zhanbai deeply, sacrificing their chance to be together to save him. The three of them looked toward Xue Ziye’s symbolic grave, raising their cups in honor of the one they had all loved. Their loved one was gone, and their cups were emptied.

Bearing the weight of his sins, Tong decided to shave his head, becoming a monk to atone and live a life of repentance by the light of the monastery’s lamps. Huo Zhanbai stayed at Yaoshi Valley, and over the years, he aged from a man in his twenties into an old man. Every day, he came to visit Xue Ziye’s grave, sharing a drink with her, his hair now white, his temples flecked with gray. In the end, he buried himself in the snow of Yaoshi Valley, spending the rest of his life cherishing the memory of his beloved.

• Does Sweet Li Qin Have A Boyfriend? She Has Many Dating rumors
• Does Joseph Zeng Shunxi Have A Girlfriend? Dating Yukee Chen?
• What's Allen Deng Lun and Li Qin's Relationship? The Wedding Has Been In Preparation?
• Does Yukee Chen Yuqi Have A Boyfriend?
• Allen Ren Jialun, Li Qin Start The Fantasy Xian Xia Love Journey
• What's Xiao Zhan and Li Qin Relationship?
• Li Qin, Johnny Huang Jingyu Had A Love-Hate Relationship In "My Dear Guardian"
• Li Qin Photos
• Who Is Evan Li Yifeng's Girlfriend? Lee Da Hae Is The Only Girlfriend Li Yifeng Has Admitted To
• Li Qin Dramas, Movies, and TV Shows List
• Joseph Zeng Dramas, Movies, and TV Shows List